Flexible Belly Rings - For Everyone!

Pregnancy Belly Rings - Theirs & Ours

2011-09-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU! :)

As the originators of adjustable length, flexible, threaded pregnancy belly rings, we have been blessed to help so many women save their navel piercings. It is very rewarding hearing the kudos about our products.

Since we started, as you can imagine, we've had competitors spring up. Some even "look" like they have the same items we do.

The threaded bars that others are finally starting to stock are the type of bar we had two years ago. But in that time, we've introduced a far superior and flexible bar, called our ULTRA flex bar. These bars are standard on all our dangle belly rings, and can be purchased separately in several lengths for other belly rings. The Ultra bars are the ones that can be tied in a knot with only an inch of material! The SmoothFlex bars are a similar type that some others are using....they are not quite as flexible but do well for inexpensive non dangle belly rings.   And lastly are the original flexi bar....which are the least flexible, not as smooth, and white in color. (Or sometimes colored) These are the least expensive, and the least comfortable. We no longer put these bars on ANY belly rings.

Which bar are you buying?   You'll never know with other manufacturers, and they don't label them as we do. They probably only offer one type of bar, and it's most likely somewhat like our SmoothFlex bar. If it is a colored bar, it is likely LESS flexible than SmoothFlex...because adding pigment in the bar tends to stiffen the material.

Our Ultra bar material is specially made for us, and we are confidant it is the most comfortable threaded bar you can find. :)   The reason we don't have it standard on all our belly rings is that it is far more expensive, and we like to give women a choice. So the SmoothFlex bar is on most of our non dangles, and your favorite lengths of UltraFlex bars are available in the Accessories section.

We love feedback, and always welcome your suggestions regarding our products!

~Jeanne

New to Maternity Piercings - Is it a...?

2011-08-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

The latest in our sterling silver offerings (so new it's not yet posted as of this writing...) our sterling silver question mark pregnancy belly button ring. Is it a boy....a girl...? Who knows? Or if you do, maybe you don't want anyone else to know! Pretty little faux pearl on bottom, this is a delightful little dangle on our softest UltraFlex bar. The bar is a bit over 1 inch long, and you can cut it and easily rethread the ball on if you'd like it shorter. :)

This design takes up less silver, therefore it will also be our least cost option for sterling maternity belly dangles!

Watch for the listing very soon!

~Jeanne

www.maternitypiercings.com

Some changes to our products and site.

2011-06-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

It only takes a couple customer feedback to make us change our ways...because we know if 1 or 2 people take the time to email us, there's 100-200 more that have similar thoughts that don't say anything.

Introducing our NEWEST UltraFlex bar.   The pregnancy belly ring shown above is normal length, just over 1 inch, and is the most flexible, comfortable threaded bar we know of on the market.

We originally started out with the white 2 inch bars that most people are still using. We've changed our material twice since then, and we no longer offer the 2 inch bars, as...face it... they are ridiculously long... and catch on everything under the sun.    Sure you can cut them off, but so many people don't because they are afraid of making a mistake.

The white bars were much cheaper, but not as flexible or smooth. The new clear bars are ultra smooth and comfy. Yes...more expensive too. The Ultras are easily 6 or 7 TIMES more expensive than the white bar, but we have strived to keep the costs low for our customers anyway. The only prices we have increased have been our sterling silver dangles, since the silver market went sky high.

In any case, we have all three bars available in the accessories section at Maternity Piercings, in case anyone is interested in comparing them. We have also slightly changed the names. The regular white bar which was our original 2 inch bar we used on everything, the SmoothFlex bar, which was our previous Ultra Flexibar, which we now use standard on all our non dangle times...and our newest UltraFlex bar, the best solid bar available for comfort.   As always, you can cut any of our bars to a shorter length, and you can use them with all your standard 14g balls and ends you have for your other body jewelry.

Styles are available for everyday wear if you're not pregnant, but would like a longer length flexible belly ring for working out, horseback riding, or other sports, as well as those times of minor weight gain when those short steel bars can get very uncomfortable.

Stop by for a visit... http://www.maternitypiercings.com

What To Do With Holiday Pregnancy Belly RIngs After Christmas?

2010-12-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

Ahh....this is what most people miss. Flexible bars aren't just for pregnancy. Wear it again next year! Sure, you're going to have to keepsake the "It's a Boy", "It's a Girl" and "Baby on Board" ones, but the holiday ones and the other designs are great to wear anytime! Why go back to steel? With any type of sports or bending over...steel can get pretty uncomfortable. If you're wearing a standard 14g threaded PTFE belly ring, feel free to wear it forever. If the bar ever strips out, replacement bars are available on our site. :) Body jewelry replacement balls are available here too. www.maternitypiercings.com

Or if you're not comfortable with purchasing replacement parts from a maternity site...lol...just visit www.comfortpiercings.com

~Jeanne

Flexible Belly Rings - For Everyone, NOT Just For Pregnancy!!

2010-12-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

The new flexible materials are GREAT for all piercings. In fact, I don't know why people would even want steel bars ever again. I'm not talking about acrylic, which is not very flexible, and is also not as safe as PTFE and bioplast. Flexible PTFE bars are a Godsend for sports and aerobics and other exercise. Also a wonderful thing to have on hand for those big holiday dinners. With steel bars, you're...well...stuck. But a flexible PTFE belly ring you can cut to whatever size you want, so it's longer, and it will also bend with you. AHHHHhhhhh... :)

So, why do manufacturers prefer to sell steel bars? Because the bottoms are soldered together, so you can't re-use the bar with other ends. They are also hoping you will lose the top ball and buy a whole new belly ring. Piercing studios will charge up to $16 (WOW!) for a replacement ball, or if they don't stock them, they will try to convince you that a replacement ball won't fit your body jewelry.. Truth is, you can buy replacement balls easy, and they fit standard gauges! Visit our site and the Accessories section for replacement balls that won't hurt your pocketbook. :)

~Jeanne

What Size Pregnancy Belly Button Ring Should You Get?

2010-12-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

Pregnancy belly rings (PBRs) are generally much longer than needed. Standard belly ring bars are about 11mm or 7/16". PBRs can be up to 2 inches in length. This makes them more likely to "catch" on things. But what size is the "right" size?

Ideally, you'll want to have two belly rings, or a belly ring with an extra bar. So you can take off the ends and put them on the longer bar later. You can start off with a length the size of your regular belly ring. I wouldn't start with a length over 1", and if you can only buy one belly ring, this length can get most anyone through their entire pregnancy. They are easy to cut and rethread. But if you are hesitant, see www.maternitypiercings.com for rethreading help. And if you're really squeamish about it, ask the seller if they will cut it for you.

As far as width...this is important...if you wear 14g, you should stay with 14g. Some pregnancy belly rings may be thinner, but if you wear them, your piercing can close up to the smaller size, making it harder to insert your regular jewelry later. If you wear 16g, there are pregnancy belly rings for you too. They can strip out easier, and are harder to rethread and resize though, so be aware of that. The best ones are the simple steel ball ones, as they hold the tightest. See our website for examples.

The size of the balls or ends. This is personal preference, but the smaller the ends, the less they will show through clothing. So, it's nice to have an "everyday" one with small 4mm balls, and perhaps another pretty dangly one for times you want to show off that beautiful belly. :)

Retainer, or belly ring? A retainer, in the regular body jewelry world, means a clearish colored shaft with O rings on the end. O rings have a tendency to slip off, and are hard to find when they do. Although we sell a lot of these retainers, we personally prefer the simple steel ball version over the O ring version.

It's your call; it's your body. Congratulations on your pregnancy, and take good care!

~Jeanne

Don't Buy PLASTIC Pregnancy Belly Rings

2010-12-02T11:39:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of people advertising "plastic" flexible belly rings. Originally, the word plastic meant acrylic bars. Before Bioplast and PTFE, these were the only flexible options out there. Some manufacturers still sell them. They are not as safe as the modern alternatives. They are also not as flexible and comfortable. If you see the word "plastic" on a body jewelry item, you should question exactly what kind of material they are referring to. If they say it is acrylic, don't bother with it, especially during pregnancy. It is ok if the balls or ends are made of acrylic, but not the material going through your piercing.

Another concern is that Bioplast and "bioplastic" and "bioflex" are not the same thing. I actually had to question one of my suppliers offering "bio" product, as I had assumed they were the same material. They had to admit they were acrylic! The thing is, there are other sellers using these manufacturers and they are NOT asking...they are ASSUMING they are getting genuine bioplast.

PTFE is another very "flexible" term....ha ha...pardon the pun. PTFE can be hollow, or solid, white, clear or colored. The clearer the better, as in more flexible and comfortable. It is. Hollow bars are considered "internal" meaning the ends slide in. Solid bars are like regular belly rings, the balls twist on, and you can even use the balls from your regular belly rings on these types of bars.

Please visit the other sections of my blog here, or my FAQs on www.pregnancybellyrings.com

~Jeanne

Flexible XMas DOUBLE GEM Pregnancy Belly Button Rings Now Available!!

2010-11-27T17:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas navel rings now available. All DOUBLE GEM styles! And all on our softest Ultra FlexiBar. These are limited supply items, so when we're out, we're out! See them all at: http://maternitypiercings.com/holiday.htm
Happy Holidays !

~Jeanne

Regular and Ultra FlexiBar Comparisons

2010-07-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of our two kinds of flexi bars.

The bar on the left is what most others use exclusively. It is a great bar and very flexible, and was our one and only original bar when we pioneered threaded PBRs. We still use it on our acrylic styles because it holds really tight.

The bar on the right is made with our Ultra Flexibar. Both bars are cut to about 2 inches. The Ultra bar is softer, and noticeably more flexible than the regular bar. Ultra bars are standard on most of our dangles. However, because they are also about 5 times more expensive, we do cut these to about 1 inch, which is the length most people will cut their pregnancy belly rings, and should suffice for the entire pregnancy. However, extra bars up to 2" are available in our Accessories & Parts section.
While we do have wholesalers out there, most will acknowledge our brand on their site. However, there are some "copycat" sites that seem to have the same or similar designs, but do not use the same quality products as we do. If you have questions, let us know.

Infections, Pierced Navels, and Pregnancy Belly RIngs

2010-03-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

Medically speaking, a navel piercing is a puncture wound. Every body will heal (or not) differently. Some women who have had their piercing for 2 years or more would have no problem taking out a belly ring for pregnancy. Another will have their piercing start closing up within a day. You can't know until you've tried it.
Pregnancy can complicate an otherwise trouble-free piercing. As the belly stretches, the skin thins, and can cause tiny ruptures to open. So you can get an infection where you've never had a problem before.

Because of this, you should always treat your piercing as if it were new. Keep the area and your jewelry clean. Even if you are not wearing a belly button ring, you need to keep this area clean because of the stretching. I haven't seen any medical opinion on this, but my thought is that if you have a retainer or flexible navel ring in the piercing, it should create a barrier for germs to enter. But again, that is assuming you keep the area and jewelry clean. Ask your doctor about this, and feel free to Email me with their medical opinions.

And a reminder....always wear the gauge you were pierced with. Wearing a thinner gauge means the piercing could close up smaller, and you'll be stuck. 14g is thicker than 16g. I know that sounds backwards, but that is the way gauges work. Do NOT use dental floss or fishing line. The reasons should be obvious. Whoever suggests this never had a piercing close up on them, or get infected.

Touching a bit more on allergic reations, the materials usually used for pregnancy navel rings are the safest out there. However hypoallergenic doesn't mean there's no chance of a reaction. If you have metal sensitivity, obviously you don't wear surgical steel belly rings. If you have a plastic sensitivity, you never wear acrylic. A plastic sensitivity could also make you sensitive to PTFE. Bioplast supposedly has even less of a reaction for plastic sensitive people, so you might consider trying it. Be aware...."bioplastic" and other words that sound similar to bioplast...well...they usually aren't. They are usually acrylic plastic, and that material should not be worn during pregnancy. (Or ever in my opinion.) Tygon is another up and coming material for piercings (though not really seen in belly rings), and is super flexible, but at this time is generally not available in exact gauges, and is so limp that insertion can be frustrating.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to post them or send them. I won't put your name online, unless you want me to.

All the best,
~Jeanne

Fit Pregnancy Article

2010-01-26T19:59:00.000-08:00

I was a little confused by a couple things they said in the article. First, they named them "surgical plastic retainers " which I'd never search for in a million years, and then they went on to say that they were "thinner" and longer, and that is incorrect. Although they are longer than steel bars, and we do have thinner 16g styles available on the site, 99% of what we sell are standard 14g bars, and we feel this is vital because if you wear a 14g (the standard gauge) and you switch to a 16g (a thinner gauge) during pregnacy, your piercing could close up a little, and then you'll have to use a taper to try to stretch back to a 14g back in again (OUCH) or be stuck with 16g forever, which are REALLY hard to find in cute styles. So make sure and get the gauge that you wear now!
Interesting that they would change the name, our pregnancy belly rings first started out as tongue rings, when they first came out with the flexible materials like bioplast and PTFE. These are products we added to our regular body jewelry offerings on Ebay, and our regular body jewelry site, but the weren't wildly popular at first. I think really it's because nobody knew to search for them. They were functional, but not very fun styles. The length was good, 16mm, which is 5/8". That's probably enough length for most people. But it's nice to have the longer length just in case. So that is what we sold for "pregnancy belly rings", until someone approached us to make longer length ones. Then we got serious, and creative. And then we finally started marketing on a separate site. And THEN we got a lot of competition. Wow....so many sites are offering these now, it's incredible. I still think we have the best selection and prices, and guarantees in the business though! :)

Upcoming issue of Fit Pregnancy

2009-12-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

BRRRRR-r-r-r...it has been so cold here! Hope you all are staying warm and cozy this winter.
We were so pleased to be asked to be in the February/March 2010 issue of Fit Pregnancy magazine. It should be on stands in mid January!
We sent in several products to their photographer, so just like you, it will be a surprise to us which one was photographed. The magazine is also online. We'll be in the "The Whole 9 Months" section. In case we get overwhelmed with orders, there are a items we may remove from the site temporarily. These items are either labor intensive, or the suppliers won't be able to get us more product in time. Grab bags will most likely be gone during this time, and 16g items will be reduced. We figure by March, or when sales start to ease up, we should have everything back as normal, and we have several new items we will be sharing.
What an exciting time!
Happy holidays everyone!

What You Should Look When Buying a Pregnancy Belly Ring

2009-11-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

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.

Pregnancy Belly Button Rings

2009-02-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

The introduction of navel piercings in the fashion world turned into a whirlwind of new piercing trends and body jewelry. Although many thought that belly button piercings were a passing fad, it looks like these piercings are as much here to stay as ear piercings are. Unfortunately, unlike the perfectly controlled world of fashion, normal women with normal lives deal with something the realization of being pregnant. And those short rigid steel bars were not made with expanding bellies in mind.

When acrylic bars came on the scene, some people figured out that tongue rings were twice as long as belly rings, and attempted to save their piercing with those. The problems with that though are that tongue rings are straight, and acrylic has very little flexibility. It also wasn't a widely approved material for piercings.

Many women who were adamant about keeping their piercing through pregnancy went to fishing line. And indeed some OB/GYNs even recommended it as a last resort. However, fishing line, which is also not approved for piercings, is also not the same gauge as a standard belly button ring. So after wearing the fishing line, many women were finding they could not go back to their belly rings.

Enter PTFE and Bioplast. These materials are non stick, hypo allergenic, safe and very flexible, and they can also be cut to fit whatever length is needed. Many styles are now available with more coming on the scene every month. A Google search for "pregnancy belly rings" shows a whole page of competition now, where only one or two stood out just a few years ago. Some styles, (primarily bioplast) have a non removeable bottom, but you can cut the top. As long as you don't make a mistake with the cutting, this is an excellent option. Medical grade PTFE is a non stick material that is perfect even for new piercings. As pregnancy belly rings, they usually are sold with both ends removeable, so not only can you use it during pregnancy, but if you want to return to a steel bar, the ends fit perfectly on those too.

Now pregnant women everywhere have the choice to keep their navel piercings.

See http://www.pregnancybellyrings.com/