In June of 2000 I left my three year-old and new born with my husband for an afternoon of me time. I had no clue where I was going or what I was doing but after about an hour of just driving around I ended up at Bluz Tattooz and Piercing. I had had a tattoo done there before and had just taken my younger brother there to get a tattoo for his eighteenth birthday, so I was somewhat familiar with the staff. I walked in thinking what the heck, I'll get a tattoo.
At A Glance Author niner When Two years ago Artist Bill Studio Bluz Tattooz and Piercing Location Waterford, MI After looking at flash for twenty minutes or so, I walked across the "lobby" and saw their body jewelry. I thought to myself: "Hey, that would be something different, you only have pierced ears!" So I decided right there that I'd get my navel pierced.
I picked out the jewelry - a 14ga captive bead ring - and they sterilized it, then Bill came in. He remembered that I was pregnant the last time he had seen me so he asked what I had. I told him that I had had a girl. After about ten more minutes of polite chatter, his assistant came with the jewelry and instruments.
I laid back on the table while he marked where the ring was going to go. Then he had me stand up and go look in the mirror to see if the placement was what I wanted. After discerning that it was in a good spot he had me lay down again and he put the forceps on my navel - a little to tightly for my taste, but I guess it was important that it didn't slip out of place.
He told me to breath in and out a couple of times and then he counted to three - one... two... three...POP!!!! The needle went through my navel! I knew in the back of my head that it would hurt some, but you can never be prepared for the exact intensity or kind of pain that may be involved.
He then waited a minute for me to settle down and to start breathing in and out slowly again. He then carefully and gently took off the forceps and put in the captive bead ring. That part didn't really hurt, it was just some pulling and tugging. But he did have some problems with the ball that goes into the ring, it was being really stubborn and wouldn't go in like it was supposed to. After about five minutes and a lot of tugging and wrestling with it he finally got the ball in. WHEW!!!
He had me stand up and go look in the mirror again to admire my navel ring. I thought it would look really funny on an untoned, post-natal tummy but it looked good! I loved the way the steel shone amid the flesh colored field. I felt pretty and couldn't wait to go home and show my husband.
I drove home feeling a little sore but generally comfortable, and really giddy with excitement about my new "improved" naval. When I got home we put the girls to bed because it was bedtime by then, and when we had some time to ourselves, I showed my husband my navel ring.
At first he was shocked, I think he didn't know what to think, but then he warmed up to it, but it took a couple of days. He was a little hurt that I didn't mention it to him before I had it done, but I explained to him that it was a spur of the moment thing and that I didn't go out on a mission to have it done. He was just a little jealous that I went by myself rather than with him. He likes to be my rock - you know, hold my hand for comfort and assurance, after all he was there for the birth of both my girls, my tattoo, and any doctor's appointment, just in case there were needles. Come to think of it, I think he likes to think that I can't handle a little pain by myself.
My navel was very sore for about a week after having the piercing, but after that it was okay. I made sure I followed the aftercare instructions to a tee and aside from occasional gooeyness, it healed up fairly quickly - for a navel piercing.
It's been about two years now since I got my navel pierced and I still absoutely love it. My husband sometimes puts a silver chain on my ring and hooks it to his earring and keeps me "in my place" as he licks me down there - you know where!
I would definitely do it again - now I'm planning on a tattoo and four 12ga titanium captive bead rings in my outer labia. Won't that surprise my husband!!!!