What You Should Look When Buying a Pregnancy Belly Ring

Pregnancy belly rings come in a variety of styles and materials these days.  Which is best for you?

The thing most pregnancy navel rings have in common is that they are made of a flexible material and are longer than normal length belly button rings.  Most can be cut shorter to fit whatever length is desired.  The balls or ends will rethread back onto the bar.

Some sellers are still trying to pass off regular plastic acrylic normal length belly rings as pregnancy belly rings.  Forget those.  They are too short and not flexible enough to be much difference than your steel bar.  They also cannot be rethreaded.  Be aware...

Some maternity belly rings are made of a material called Bioplast....also you will find similar names such as Bioplastic, or Bioflex.  Bioplast is the original and best of the "bio" names.  Anything else could actually be acrylic plastic...but usually at least longer in length.  If in doubt, ask the seller.   The drawback with real Bioplast is that the bottom is not removeable.  The bar and the bottom mold where the gems are set are generally one piece.  This is not a problem as long as you are very careful when you cut it.  If you cut it too short, you're stuck.  You can't replace the bar. Also sometimes the molds that are poured have a contoured back and do not lie flat.  Fine for most types of wear, but not great for later months of pregnancy because they can stick out quite a bit.

Most pregnancy belly rings are made of PTFE.  There is a wide range of PTFE.  Some types are far more flexible than others, and there is no standard on which you are getting.  Generally, the more "milky" colored the bar, the more the flexibility.  White or colored bars generally have the least flex, but are still fine for pregnancy.  In fact the less flexible ones can be easier to rethread.  They usually come about 2 inches long and you can cut them to whatever length you like.  However the super soft ones are definitely superior in comfort.  So it depends on whether you're shopping for price or flexibility.

The softest flexible milky colored bars sometimes come shorter than 2 inches because they are so soft, they are harder to rethead. (Usually just a basic steel ball works just fine as a threading ball.)  Although shorter than the 2 inch type, these shorter belly rings are usually at least twice as long as a regular belly ring.  On our site, for example they are just over 1 inch...or about 28-30mm long.  In comparison, a normal length belly ring is only 3/8", or 10mm long.  So a pregnancy navel ring of 2 inches is probably way too long, and really SHOULD be cut for daily use.

Some pregnancy navel rings are internally threaded, meaning the bar is hollow, and the ends slide in.  Most are externally threaded, which means the balls thread on like regular belly rings.  External also means you can use any standard 14g ball or end on them, (including ones you already own) and replacements are widely available for very little cost in case you loose the top ball when you're threading it back on.  About $2-3 per gem ball on our site.

Pregnancy belly rings can be basic or dangle styles, including baby themes like pink or blue colored pacifiers or "baby on board" etc   Some styles are just plain ball ends in different sizes or colors.  The smaller the ends, the less they will show through your fitted sweaters, etc.  Standard belly rings have bottom balls of 8mm.  You can find pregnancy belly rings with smaller ends than that, if desired.

A seller that offers replacement bars is a great find, especially if they offer the softest milky colored bars that are prethreaded for you.

The last thing you should consider when purchasing a pregnancy belly ring, is if there is a breakage guarantee.  A company that stands behind their products, is one that will work with you should something happen.  Sometimes this requires sending the jewelry back for repair, sometimes not.

Nipple Piercings and Pregnancy

Several of our customers have inquired about nipple piercings and pregnancy.  Unfortunately, the answers aren't what they had hoped for.

If you're planning on breastfeeding, you should remove your nipple piercing jewelry and let the holes close up as soon as possible.  You can't breastfeed with jewelry in, obviously since the baby would not be able to latch on, and if she could it would be an extreme choking hazzard from the removeable ends. 
If the piercing is not allowed sufficient time to close up, you could lactate from the piercing holes, and this also decreases suction, and makes it extremely hard for the baby to latch on.  It may also cause the baby to choke.

If you are definitely not planning to breastfeed, you may still lactate through the piercing holes until the milk dries up.  Nipple piercing jewelry during this time can be uncomfortable and messy, and has the possibility of getting infected.  Keeping the jewelry and piercings sterile during this time can be a challenge. So ultimately, the best advice is still to allow the piecing to close up.