How Your Belly Button Changes During Pregnancy (When It Pops)

Not all women welcome this pregnancy symptom, but it’s usually completely harmless. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly happens down there to make your belly button pop (or how to care for it once it does), read on.

You can blame your expanding uterus for your navel’s change. As it grows to accommodate your baby, the extra pressure on your abdomen causes your belly button to stretch, flatten, and—often—pop out. In other words, it may change from an “innie” to an “outie.”

This obviously won’t happen until your bump starts to visibly protrude. You can expect to start showing around week 16 of your pregnancy, and your belly button may “pop” a few months after that, potentially as you approach the start of your third trimester (week 28).

This body change happens because the belly button is the thinnest part of your abdominal wall, making it more strongly affected by your body changing in your second and third trimesters. Don’t worry—the condition is common and nothing to worry about. 1 2

What does it feel like when your belly button pops?

While your belly button popping shouldn’t be actively painful, you may experience a range of other sensations in the area over the course of your pregnancy, some of which might still be mildly uncomfortable.

Common complaints include:

• Sensitivity: Your belly button may feel more sensitive as your skin stretches. Expect the rubbing of your clothes against it to become a source of irritation.
• Itchiness: A combination of pregnancy hormones and dry skin from your stretching belly will have you scratching quite a bit.
• Pulling: You’ll feel this sensation as the ligaments of the umbilical ring stretch to accommodate your growing uterus.

If your mild discomfort turns into intense or persistent belly button pain, it’s time to call your doctor or midwife. Here are a few conditions you might run into that need medical attention:

• Umbilical hernia: A weakness in your abdominal wall can sometimes lead to a small piece of tissue poking through the opening. When this happens, you might notice a soft lump around your navel, which will be even more evident when you lie down. While most umbilical hernias are harmless, you should still have your doctor check this out. 3
• Incarcerated hernia: In rare cases, an umbilical hernia will trap a bit of your intestines, leading to intense pain and a hard lump near your belly button. This is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. 4
• Skin conditions: If you develop a rash around your navel, you could be looking at a pregnancy-related skin condition like polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP), which also goes by the even scarier-sounding name “pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy” (PUPPP). Your rash could also have a more mundane cause, but you’ll need an evaluation to be sure. 5

If you develop any of the symptoms listed above—or if your belly just hurts more than you were expecting—don’t be a hero. Get yourself seen by a professional.

How to cope with minor belly button discomfort

Short of those doctor-worthy issues, you can look after your belly button on your own during your pregnancy. Here are a few things you can do to maintain your sanity:

• Use covers and support products: You can get specially designed belly button products like tummy sleeves and shapers to protect your protruding navel from irritation. If DIY is your thing, taping a cloth or bandage over the area can also do the trick.
• Get a belly band for hernias: These wraps provide the extra support you need to manage your increased belly weight and give you relief if you’re suffering from back aches or rib pain during pregnancy. 2
• Avoid piercings: Avoid getting new belly piercings while you’re expecting, and consider switching out anything metal for flexible PTFE jewelry (Teflon) to accommodate your growing stomach. Sanitation is also key to avoiding infection, so if you have piercings, keep them clean. 6
• Apply skincare products: Apply moisturizer to your belly as needed to reduce your general itchiness and soothe your dry skin.

Most women will see their belly button flip back to an innie and return to its pre-pregnancy proportions around 6 weeks after delivery. 2

With that said, some changes (flattening and stretching, etc.) may linger for a while after that—your body is unique, and it’ll recover from the ordeal of pregnancy on its own schedule.

If you develop a dark line (linea nigra) on your abdomen during pregnancy, it will also fade in the weeks or months after giving birth. 7 If you have belly button piercings, expect the area to remain slightly stretched for a while.

If you’re not inclined to let your belly button spring back on its own, you can opt for cosmetic surgery (umbilicoplasty) to reshape it as you see fit. 8 This procedure is a personal decision you should discuss with a qualified surgeon.

Not every mom-to-be relishes the thought of their belly button standing at attention, but try not to stress about it too much. Whether it’s welcome or unwelcome, this pregnancy symptom is small, harmless, and usually temporary.

Do your best to embrace the spectacle, and remember that your body is doing amazing things, both inside and out.