Navel Changes During Pregnancy

Many women are amazed at the navel changes during pregnancy. The belly button may appear larger, bulging, or even flat. It can also look like it’s flipped.

Learn about navel changes during pregnancy in this article.

The function of the navel during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the navel has a very important function. It is the point where the fetus is connected to its mother by means of an umbilical cord.

The umbilical cord stores all the nutrients, blood and oxygen your baby needs. In other words, you keep everything your baby needs to develop in the womb.

Navel changes during pregnancy

Certain changes occur during pregnancy. As the uterus expands, there is more pressure on the center of the body. This causes changes in the navel, although it is more obvious in some women than others.

Some of the biggest changes are:

• The navel becomes flat. As the months go by, the skin stretches. As a result, your navel also stretches, making it appear as if it has been erased or disappeared.
• A bulging belly button. Between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (after week 28), the belly button bends. This is a painless phenomenon where the navel pops out like a button.
• Appearance of a dark or black line. This vertical line, also called linea alba, starts at the navel and continues to the pubic bone. The cause of the darkening of the skin is due to the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. It will slowly disappear after delivery.

When the navel comes back in place

If the navel bulges before or after the given date, don’t worry. This is because the navel is more likely to bulge out in women with slack tissue. It can also go unnoticed in women with harder or thicker skin.

Although the navel looks different during pregnancy, it will return to the correct position after delivery. The uterus returns to its original size and returns to its original size. You can also regain your old weight.

Complications That May Occur

You can get an umbilical hernia as a result of excessive exhaustion of the abdominal muscles . Its most common symptoms are:

• Sensitivity or pain in the abdomen.
• Presence of a thick or soft mass.
• Yield.
• Digestive problems.
• Fever.
• Gastrointestinal disorders, such as constipation.
• infections.
• Dermatitis on the skin of the umbilical cord.

Reasons Your Belly Button Hurts

Some pregnant women feel pain in and around their belly button when they touch it. This pain is related to the fact that the abdomen has grown so quickly. The rapid stretching of the skin does not allow the navel to adapt.

To relieve the pain you can use a band for pregnant women. You can also wear underwear that covers your belly button so that your body can get used to the fact that you will gradually gain weight.

Because this is a sensitive spot, the pain can be very distracting. Try to wear loose clothing or keep your stomach bare to avoid chafing that can cause irritation.

Recommendations regarding navel changes

There is nothing you can do to prevent the belly button from popping out. However, you can remember these tips:

• If your belly button is still very large after pregnancy and not going back to normal, surgery can help. With a minor procedure, your navel is reconstructed and excess skin is removed.
• Use plenty of body cream to keep the skin around your belly button hydrated.
• Pay attention to your hygiene and use neutral soaps without fragrance or irritating chemicals. If you are unsure about what to use, you can contact a dermatologist.

While these changes may surprise you, don’t worry too much about them. After all, everything is normal. Your uterus and abdominal muscles will return to their normal state after delivery.

All the changes in your belly button will disappear after delivery. Therefore, you should not worry about this small detail when you are pregnant.