You may be wondering the effect of piercing on your pregnancy. Women have been encouraged to avoid piercing of the belly button, genitalia and breast during pregnancy. This is because as the body undergoes changes during pregnancy, the breast and stomach grows. This causes  the holes not to heal completely  and become bigger and  make them  more prone to infection.

 

 

If you already have piercing that is completely healed, there is no need to take it off if you are comfortable. However, you may find the jewelry being pulled, catching on to clothing or bothering the skin as the belly and breast grow bigger. In this case, you can take it out and replace it with a clean fishing line or polytetrafluoroethylene jewelry (flexible plastic used for surgical implants).

 

It is important to contact the piercer for the following reasons :

• if you experience any changes in the piercing
• to ask for any suggestions with maintaining the hole, preventing infection and preventing pulling and tearing
• to make sure that you have followed and continue to follow service provider guidelines

 

What guidelines should piercing studios follow ?

 

If you are thinking about piercing,  make sure the studio you chose follow these piercing and pregnancy guidelines.

• they are a state registered piercing studio
• they have an autoclave sterilizing unit to sterilize equipments
• new sterilized gloves are used for each procedure
• all the jewelry used are sterile packed and unopened
• they use disposable needles that are used only once
• surfaces and floors are cleaned and sterilized
• the piercer is accessible at anytime for at least 24 hours after the piercing

 

What is the effect of piecing on my pregnancy ?

 

You are at high risk for infection if the piercing is not properly cared for. The use of non sterile instruments can put you at risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS.

 

NOTE
 

You should remove your jewelry if

• the hole never healed properly
• the hole is inflamed , irritated or weepy
• you have nipple piercing and are breastfeeding. It increases your risk for infection and baby may choke on jewelry

 

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