Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChanges in PregnancyPhysical ChangesCauses of PainWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Changes in Pregnancy
Physical Changes
Causes of Pain
When to See a Provider
If you’ve noticed that the appearance of your belly button has changed during pregnancy, you’re not alone. Anecdotally, some people report that their “innie” belly button pops out and develops into an"outie" belly button, typically just before or during the third trimester.
This is likely due to the increasingsize of the uteruspressing against the abdominal wall.
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Pregnancy and Belly Button Changes
Appearance Throughout Trimesters
For some people,pregnant bellychanges aren’t quite as noticeable in the first trimester. Throughout this time, your waistline can begin to expand, though this may look more likebloatingor a subtle change.
In the third trimester, your navel or belly button may physically stick out.Abdominal tightening or paincan also occur, which could be contractions signaling false or actual labor.
Sensations
While belly button changes during pregnancy should not cause intense pain, it’s possible to experience certain sensations as your belly grows. Itchy, dry, or tight skin on the abdomen and around the belly button can occur during pregnancy. This happens as the skin on the abdomen stretches, temporarily irritating the area.
Any soreness or tenderness is likely a result of skin, internal muscle, orligamentstretching, but it’s still a good idea to report any noticeable pain to your healthcare provider. Friction-related irritation around the navel, such as rubbing against clothes, can also occur.
After Pregnancy
After pregnancy, as your uterus shrinks back to its prepregnancy size and shape, your abdomen will begin to follow suit. During thispostpartum period, you may notice discomfort or cramping in the abdominal or navel area.If there were any physical changes to your belly button during pregnancy, your navel will likely return to its original appearance postpartum or close to it.
There is no scientific evidence that body weight plays a role in belly buttons' “popping out” during pregnancy. In general, though, body weight does not seem to substantially impact the belly button’s appearance.
How Pregnancy Physically Changes the Navel
A growing uterus places pressure on the abdominal wall throughoutpregnancy. This can lead to physical changes to the navel and belly button. Here’s what you might experience:
As the skin on the abdomen stretches during pregnancy, it’s possible that an existingbelly button piercingcould lead to a skin tear.Discuss with your healthcare provider whether they recommend removing the navel jewelry as your pregnancy progresses. Belly button piercings can be replaced or re-pierced after delivery if desired.
Causes of Pregnant Belly Button Pain
Pregnancy can lead toabdominal painaround the navel area as the uterus continues to expand.
Stretching of theround ligament, a band of connective tissue between the uterus and groin that helps support the growing uterus, may be one cause of pain during the second trimester.It typically feels like sudden, sharp pain around the belly button, mainly when laughing or coughing. Though the pain is usually not a cause for concern, speak with your healthcare provider if the pain is severe or persistent.
Anumbilical hernia, a bulge of small intestine tissue or internal fat tissue (omentum) that develops through an opening in the abdominal wall muscle, may also lead to pain or discomfort. It can be successfully repaired with surgery. However, surgeons typically do not repair umbilical hernia during pregnancy. Some surgeons will wait until you are finished childbearing because another pregnancy may disrupt the repair.
If sensations like itchiness around your belly button come along with a rash, another potential cause could bepruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy(PUPPP), which usually develop in the third trimester. It can look like small, raised, discolored bumps that start along stretch marks and eventually spread to other body parts.
A Word From Verywell
—ANDREA BRADEN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
When to Check With a Healthcare Provider
Summary
You may notice belly button changes during pregnancy, including appearance and sensation. Some people report their belly button sticking out or protruding from the abdomen around the second or third trimester of pregnancy, which is thought to be the result of the growing uterus pressing against the navel. While this may come with some mild discomfort, any pain should be reported to your healthcare provider, as this could signal an umbilical hernia in rare cases.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Changes in your body during pregnancy: First trimester.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Changes during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Skin conditions during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum pain management.American Academy of Family Physicians.Changes in your body during pregnancy: Second trimester.American Pregnancy Association.Piercing and pregnancy.Zachariah SK, Fenn M, Jacob K, Arthungal SA, Zachariah SA.Management of acute abdomen in pregnancy: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2019;11:119-34. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S15150Kulacoglu H.Umbilical hernia repair and pregnancy: Before, during, after.Front Surg. 2018 Jan 29;5:1. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2018.00001American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy.MedlinePlus.Aches and pains during pregnancy.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Changes in your body during pregnancy: First trimester.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Changes during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Skin conditions during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum pain management.American Academy of Family Physicians.Changes in your body during pregnancy: Second trimester.American Pregnancy Association.Piercing and pregnancy.Zachariah SK, Fenn M, Jacob K, Arthungal SA, Zachariah SA.Management of acute abdomen in pregnancy: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2019;11:119-34. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S15150Kulacoglu H.Umbilical hernia repair and pregnancy: Before, during, after.Front Surg. 2018 Jan 29;5:1. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2018.00001American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy.MedlinePlus.Aches and pains during pregnancy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Changes in your body during pregnancy: First trimester.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Changes during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Skin conditions during pregnancy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum pain management.American Academy of Family Physicians.Changes in your body during pregnancy: Second trimester.American Pregnancy Association.Piercing and pregnancy.Zachariah SK, Fenn M, Jacob K, Arthungal SA, Zachariah SA.Management of acute abdomen in pregnancy: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2019;11:119-34. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S15150Kulacoglu H.Umbilical hernia repair and pregnancy: Before, during, after.Front Surg. 2018 Jan 29;5:1. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2018.00001American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy.MedlinePlus.Aches and pains during pregnancy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Changes in your body during pregnancy: First trimester.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Changes during pregnancy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Skin conditions during pregnancy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum pain management.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Changes in your body during pregnancy: Second trimester.
American Pregnancy Association.Piercing and pregnancy.
Zachariah SK, Fenn M, Jacob K, Arthungal SA, Zachariah SA.Management of acute abdomen in pregnancy: current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2019;11:119-34. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S15150
Kulacoglu H.Umbilical hernia repair and pregnancy: Before, during, after.Front Surg. 2018 Jan 29;5:1. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2018.00001
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy.
MedlinePlus.Aches and pains during pregnancy.
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