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Women experience pain in the navel area during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimester. And as we all know, the belly button is something which links the placenta. It is not attached to any other part of the abdomen after delivery. Though it’s still a mystery, we can assure you that most of the reasons for belly button pain are not a cause of concern. And the pain normally subsides after childbirth. However, there are some potential causes of navel pain during pregnancy. Continue reading the article to know the causes behind navel pain and also some home remedies that might provide some relief.
What Causes Belly Button Pain During Pregnancy?
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Here is a list of five reasons that might cause belly button pain in pregnant women:
1) Stretching Of The Skin And Muscles
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As your belly grows, your skin and muscles around the belly also stretch during pregnancy. It may also cause diastasis recti. It is a condition where the abs separate into two halves- left and right. Though it does not directly cause belly button pain, the amount of tissue between the navel and the uterus reduces. This may make the navel area more sensitive to the pressure. Stretching of the skin around the navel area can also cause pain and itching (1).
2) Pressure In Uterus
Your belly grows and expands throughout your pregnancy. Naturally, your uterus also expands to make space for your growing baby. This can put some pressure on the abdomen and your navel area. When you are in your second trimester, the positioning of the uterus changes from inside the pelvis to between the breast and navel. And by the time you hit your third trimester, the uterus now extends further to the bottom of the ribs. All these changes can exert more pressure on the skin around the belly button. You may experience more pain, itching, and discomfort as you are nearing your due date (2).
3) Pierced Navel
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Some women pierce their belly button. But as the skin stretches, it can pull on the piercing which can tear it. A torn or injured navel will put the mother at a greater risk of infections. And if you have recently pierced your belly button which is less than a year old, it may not have healed completely. In such cases, it would be better to consult your doctor and consider removing it (3).
4) The Popping Of The Belly Button
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A pregnant woman’s belly button may pop outward during pregnancy. This can make the navel more sensitive and painful (4).
5) Umbilical Hernia
Another reason which causes pain in the belly button can be an umbilical hernia. The pressure can push the bowel to pouch out into the umbilical cavity which then becomes inflamed and painful. Surgery is not always recommended unless the symptoms become more prominent. But if the bowel becomes incarcerated or strangulated, surgery might be performed. However, surgery comes with relatively low risk to the mother and the baby (5).
Here are some easy remedies to provide you relief:
Warm/Cool Compresses
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To ease the discomfort, you can try applying warm or cool compresses to the itchy or painful area. Make sure that the compresses are not too hot or you are using ice packs directly on the skin if you don’t want to end up with burns or increased sensitivity (6).
Aloe Vera Gel/Calamine Lotion
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Some moisturizing can help. Massage some calamine lotion or aloe vera gel to soothe the skin around the belly button (7).
Massage Your Way To Relief
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Pregnancy massage can also provide some relief if the cause of the pain isn’t an umbilical hernia. Even massage from your partner can help you get some relief from lower back or pelvic pain (8).
Though all the causes for pain are not known, in most cases belly button pain does not cause any lasting complications during pregnancy. If you have severe pain or inflamed or cracked skin, you can seek the help of the doctor for the right treatment. Did you find this article helpful? Let us know in the comment section below.
