Stretching/Gauging ears while pregnant? « Back to Group Discussions

[WindyCityMom]

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

My ears are currently stretched to a 6g.  I do it the "right" way, waiting several months between sizes, keeping them very clean and preventing infection (I've never had an infection, actually!). It's been since around July or August, so I'm due to go up a size.  This would be the second to last stretch that I would do.  

Would you personally feel okay doing this?  It's a very slow process and doesn't at all really "cut" the skin.  I think I'd be more at risk being scratched by my cat  but a friend of mine is freaked out and told me to seek "outside opinion".  So, outsiders, what do you think? :)

Also, what is your take on a tattoo (non-henna) during pregnancy?  I'm not planning that (I'm too scared, haha!), but it's in the same boat and I'm curious.  I know that most piercers won't touch you if you're obviously gestating, but I'm still wondering, lol. 

[hyde]

Has your friend gone through the stretching process herself? For me, BTDT and my first reaction is- why on Earth not?? :) I'd just go for it.

(No idea on the tattoo bit- it seems like a different boat to me (it's all body modification, yeah, but tattoos are somewhat more invasive and involve blood more frequently), but if I were to come down on one side or the other I would just be talking out of.. nowhere that it's sensible to talk out of.)

[mole]

I vote yes stretch no tattoo. i'm waiting til the baby is born to get my next tattoo. reasoning is stretching is non-bloody, non-invasive; tatooing is bloody and invasive.

[Carlin]

I'd agree. Yes to stretching no to tattooing. As long as you are doing it carefully I don't think it's a big deal. I would of course make sure you are taking all possible precautions against infection (as you've said) because you probably don't want to be on antibiotics while pregnant and in my experience you don't heal quite as quickly when pregnant.

 Regarding tattoos, I think I read somewhere that tattoo artists aren't even allowed to tattoo pregnant people. I may just be making that up though so don't take my word for it!

[RoseisRose]

I have stretched during pregnancy. As long as you are not doing it the cheater way, then you'll be fine. There is no invasion to your skin surface via cutting, so you are less prone to infection. I'm at a 0 and not planning to go any higher.