Can You Get a Tattoo While Pregnant or Breastfeeding?

Many people love to express themselves through tattoos, but if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may wonder if getting inked is safe for you and your baby. The short answer is: it’s not recommended. Here’s why:

Key Takeaway

Getting a tattoo while pregnant or breastfeeding can pose several risks, such as infections, allergic reactions, and exposure to harmful substances. These risks can affect both your health and your baby’s development. Therefore, it’s best to wait until after you give birth and stop breastfeeding before getting a tattoo.

Example

Let’s say you are pregnant and you want to get a tattoo to celebrate your baby’s arrival. You may think that getting a small and simple design on your arm or ankle is harmless, but you could be wrong. Even a small tattoo can introduce bacteria, viruses, or chemicals into your bloodstream, which can then cross the placenta and reach your baby. This can cause serious complications, such as miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, or infections. Additionally, getting a tattoo can weaken your immune system, making you more prone to illnesses that can harm your pregnancy.

Similarly, if you are breastfeeding and you want to get a tattoo, you could also put your baby at risk. Some of the substances used in tattooing, such as ink, pigments, or numbing agents, can pass into your breast milk and affect your baby’s health. For example, some tattoo inks contain heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, or cadmium, which can accumulate in your baby’s organs and cause damage. Furthermore, getting a tattoo can increase your chances of getting an infection, such as hepatitis B or C, or HIV, which can also be transmitted to your baby through breast milk.

Actionable Step

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and you really want to get a tattoo, the best thing you can do is to wait until you are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding. This way, you can avoid the potential risks and complications that getting a tattoo can cause for you and your baby. However, if you decide to go ahead and get a tattoo anyway, make sure you do the following:

Choose a reputable and licensed tattoo artist who follows strict hygiene and safety standards.
Check the ingredients of the tattoo ink and avoid any that contain harmful substances, such as heavy metals, azo pigments, or aromatic amines.
Inform your tattoo artist that you are pregnant or breastfeeding and ask them to use the smallest needle possible and the least amount of ink.
Follow the aftercare instructions carefully and keep the tattooed area clean and dry.
Monitor the tattooed area for any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pain, pus, or fever, and seek medical attention if you notice any.
Inform your doctor or midwife that you got a tattoo and ask them to check your blood for any infections or abnormalities.
Watch your baby for any signs of adverse reactions, such as rash, vomiting, diarrhea, or poor growth, and consult your pediatrician if you notice any.

Quiz

To test your understanding of the article, answer the following questions:

What are some of the risks of getting a tattoo while pregnant or breastfeeding?
- A) Infections, allergic reactions, and exposure to harmful substances
- B) Bleeding, scarring, and fading of the tattoo
- C) Nausea, dizziness, and fainting
- D) All of the above
- Answer: A
How can getting a tattoo affect your baby’s health and development?
- A) It can cause miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, or birth defects
- B) It can pass bacteria, viruses, or chemicals into your baby’s bloodstream or breast milk
- C) It can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to illnesses
- D) All of the above
- Answer: D
What is the best thing you can do if you want to get a tattoo while pregnant or breastfeeding?
- A) Wait until you are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding
- B) Choose a small and simple design on a safe area of your body
- C) Use natural or organic tattoo ink and numbing cream
- D) None of the above
- Answer: A
What are some of the precautions you should take if you decide to get a tattoo anyway?
- A) Choose a reputable and licensed tattoo artist who follows strict hygiene and safety standards
- B) Check the ingredients of the tattoo ink and avoid any that contain harmful substances
- C) Inform your tattoo artist that you are pregnant or breastfeeding and ask them to use the smallest needle possible and the least amount of ink
- D) All of the above
- Answer: D
What are some of the signs that you or your baby may have an infection or an adverse reaction from the tattoo?
- A) Redness, swelling, pain, pus, or fever on the tattooed area
- B) Rash, vomiting, diarrhea, or poor growth in your baby
- C) Both A and B
- D) Neither A nor B
- Answer: C

Can You Get a Tattoo While Pregnant or Breastfeeding?