Don’t fear the belly button

“All our times have come
Here, but now they’re gone
Seasons don’t fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain”

Omphalophobia is one of those off phobias. One may ponder the question of whether any phobia is not odd. However, there are phobias that are more acceptable such as arachnophobia and claustrophobia. Omphalophobia –now that is something. Have you ever been afraid to look or touch your belly button? If so, you may have a twinge of Omphalophobia.

Growing up I was always a little scared of belly buttons. When my baby sister was born, I was watching her for a few hours when her umbilical cord came out. That is obviously a very normal thing to happen to a newborn. However, I had no idea and was scared out of my mind. My mom soon let me know that it was all a normal baby thing. Still, belly buttons were a little scary.

I don’t really fear belly buttons. I don’t fear that a monster or an alien is going to come out the way they do in science fiction movies. It’s just when you look at them they can represent a certain type of abyss.  Perhaps that is why there are some crazy, silly songs out there about the belly button.  If something is scary, sing about it and the fears will dissipate. Such fear and subsequent tactic, would explain why there have been so many love songs out there throughout history. Anyway, back to the fear of belly buttons. Have you seen the movie the science fiction horror film the Scourge? It won’t alleviate any belly button fear out there.

When I became pregnant, my belly button started protruding out more and more. It was as if it was going to explode and out would come a baby. Hmm. I suppose that is what can happen. Did you know that 90% of humans have an “innie” belly button? Thus, protruding belly buttons (or outies) can truly be a bit frightening since they are less common.

When I gave birth I was ecstatic. I had my baby boy in the bassinet right next to me during the night in the hospital. He started to cry and I went to nurse him. Then by nursing shirt strap got caught in his belly button cord and it tugged at him. I got totally freaked out and panicked. He started to cry and cry. Eventually I untagged the strap and he stopped crying. In that moment I had the weirdest feeling of Déjà vu. It was incredible that so many years later I had to again face a crazy, slithering umbilical cord. The crazy thing is that umbilical cords serve as a constant reminder that we were once connected to our mothers inside the womb. Although slimy, it is a beautiful thing and perhaps can be life-saving if banked and stored away for emergency use later on in life.

I look at my son’s belly button now and I find it the cutest thing ever. I wonder why was I ever so scared of it. Actually, I have had negative reinforcement in the past when it comes to belly buttons and thus a light fear of them is perfectly normal.  Although, we can all act like Billy Brown whose belly button was stolen one night and he fought bravely to get it back. For the belly button is a part of our essence and being.

The spiral