Sore skin around belly button...

[ro4chat]

I'm almost 30 weeks, and I know that my skin needs to stretch to accommodate the LO, but the area around my belly button feels really sore.
It's at skin level, horizontally across my belly. I've been using a lotion for stretch marks all over my belly, hoping it would help with elasticity and I still got quite a few marks in the lower part of my belly, but that doesn't worry me. This thing makes it quite painful to stand up, it feels like my skin is going to rip.

Has anybody experienced anything similar?

Could it be that the layer underneath my skin is refusing to expand? My belly is not really round, the navel hasn't popped.

I should add that I'm a size 16, 5'1 and my belly is quite prominent already. I dread to think what it will be like in 10 weeks!

I had that with no.3. Although it felt like it might, the skin didn't actually rip. hth ;)

I have had a really sore belly button with this pregnancy (DC3) but not the others. In the end my belly button did pop out, but apparently it is small hernia, which is why it has been so sensitive. It started at about 25 weeks, but isn't as bad now at 36 weeks. If yours gets really sore you can always check with your mw at your next appointment, but there isn't really anything they can do (as far as i know) if it is a hernia. If it isn't a hernia and is the skin stretching, then i would carry on using the lotion for stretch marks, but again you can still check with your mw as she might know some top tips. Good luck!

i also have this im 29 weeks and it feels so painfull, i havent got any stretch marks yet, but the pulling feeling around my belly button is really sore, i also have my belly button pierced i was told by my midwife i didnt have to take it out and they would just change it for another one in the hospital but i think i might take it out.

Thanks for your prompt replies!

It's nice to know that others have been through it and their bellies didn't actually rip! . It's quite frightening though, specially when my LO kicks so hard.

I had considered the possibility of a hernia, but I don't know much about them. I will ask my mw and read about it.

Thanks again and hope your pain gets better soon!

I am currently 31+3 (normally size 8/10, 5 ft 7, slim.) i haven't put on weight anywere but bump really ( i think a bit of the backside though) and got a few weeny stretchmarks on my boobs as i never had any before pregnancy now i am 36c/d...

i too experience soreness around belly button. I took my belly bar out very early on (now i am glad i did) but where the hole is i have like a 1cm red mark now. and my bely button which was inny before now pops out (depending on bumps position)

I am also moisturising but it does feel like there is no room behind the belly button - wierd isnt it? everyone says my bump is small but its when the baby pushes out that i feel the stretch more so!!

Don't worry it's just the skin stretching, I remember just wanting to scratch it. Sometimes so bad I took paracetamol. wearing maternity tights or a tight bump band helped. it eased up once the skin gave up and zebra like stretch marks appeared