I had been considering for quite some time what piercing to get next, I had had the usual - ears done aged 11 (strict mother who wouldn't let me get them done any earlier), nose aged 21 (I ended up taking it out because of work purposes - that's narrow minded bosses for you, boo!), and my tongue pierced aged 25 (although I had to take out when I became pregnant and I 'rejected' it, go figure huh?).
At A Glance Author Lavenderlamb Contact Lavenderlamb@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist Tina Studio Blue Banana Location Lincoln, UK I had long toyed with the idea of getting my nipples done, but I made the mistake of speaking to a couple of people I knew who gave me their personal experience stories which were bad enough to frighten little children with, so I decided to give it a miss (for now at least!).
Now, I have hated my stomach for a few years now (well, that's what having kids does for you!), and I'd wanted something to draw the eye away from the extensive wear and tear of motherhood, so had plumped for a navel piercing, I wasn't after anything particularly exciting or unusual, just something I could finally be pleased with when I looked in the mirror.
I guess it was a kind of a spur of the moment thing, because I knew if I made an appointment to come back either the day after or the next week, it would give me way too much time to dwell on the expected pain (yeah, yeah, I'm such a wimp!). I'd met a friend in our local town centre earlier in the day, but she'd gone home unexpectedly early, which left me with some time to spare before I had to go and collect my minions from school. I knew it was time to get it done, it was as if fate was telling me that the time was right and to go be a big brave girl and get it done. We have a few piercing studios here, but I'd been to this place previously, and hadn't had any previous problems with infection, I knew they were especially particular about cleanliness and sterility and took their responsibility as a tattoo and piercing studio seriously. I had a look around in the shop, laughed at the rude bears (too long a story to recount right now) and finally plucked up the courage an d asked for my piercing, I chose my jewellery and after being told that I'd have to wait while it was being sterilised, I walked around some more and checked out the tattoos in the back, speaking to some young, barely 18 year old girl who was waiting for her boyfriend's tattoo to be finished and had also just had her boyfriend's initials tattooed on her shoulder (I didn't have the heart to tell her she'd probably regret it in a few months time.... oh well). Before I knew it, it was all systems go, my jewellery was ready and Tina ushered me into one of the piercing cubicles.
Tina put on her white coat, got a fresh plastic apron and gloves from a pack and put them on. I was then asked to stand up to be marked with the pen, as Tina said marking someone when they're laying down affects where it sits when you're standing up, and basically to ensure it was straight and where I wanted it. Tina then used an antiseptic swab to clean my navel. After agreeing it was in the best place, I lay down on the surgical 'bed', put my hands on my chest, looked up at the ceiling and waited for the pain... Tina was really good and chatted throughout about stuff and nothing, she sprayed me with a local anaesthetic, clamped it up and before I knew it, the needle was through and ready for my jewellery! I guess I had expected a major rush of adrenaline when it when through to then feeling the familiar sting of freshly pierced flesh, but it didn't arrive, and to be honest, it still hasn't, some 4 hours later. Tina put a small dressing on it, told me to leave it on f or an hour, gave me my aftercare 'pack' and gave me the usual run down on what and what not to do. And that was that, not before joking that I'd probably be back next week for my nipple piercings! She also said for me to come back in 6 weeks or so, and she'd change the jewellery for me if I wanted it.
I now just have to wait and see what the husband has to say about it all when he gets home! Suffice to say, he's not the type to go in for piercings! The kids love it, and think their mummy is 'well cool' for getting it done. I guess it'll have to be a special meal for him tonight. Wish me luck!