Having a baby is a momentous occasion and one you want to celebrate. Getting a little ink seems like the perfect option, but can you get a tattoo while pregnant?
The short answer is yes, but you must consider several factors first. This article outlines everything you need to know about getting a tattoo while pregnant.
Should a Person That Is Pregnant Get a Tattoo Now or Later?
Your first step is to go to a reputable tattoo parlor. They will willingly explain the risks of getting a tattoo during pregnancy and ensure you understand them. Find someone else if your tattoo artist tells you there’s no need to worry.
Safety First
When speaking to the tattoo artist, ensure they have the following in place:
- An up-to-date registration in states where tattoo artists must be registered practitioners
- Gloves for use during the procedure
- A working autoclave to properly sterilize their equipment
- A clean and relatively tidy studio
- New, single-use needles for each client
- Sterile dressings in unopened packaging
- Ink or dyes in unopened, sterile packaging
- Availability if something goes wrong within the first day after the procedure
- A clear strategy if something goes wrong in the upcoming days or months
Look for reviews of the parlor and ask for examples of work they’ve done on other pregnant women. Have they ever worked on someone carrying a child, and if so, in what stage of pregnancy?
Potential Risks
You can get a tattoo while pregnant if you visit a reputable artist. However, we recommend waiting until after the baby is born as there are some risks of which to be aware.
The primary concern is that there is a slight risk of infection from HIV or Hepatitis B. While the danger is slight, it’s still worth considering. By waiting until after you deliver, you do not expose your unborn child to unnecessary risk.
Another concern is in the inks and dyes the artists use. There is very little scientific research on the effect of tattoo ink or dye you absorb through the skin on the fetus. For example, we must determine if the chemicals might stunt the baby’s development during the first trimester.
Very few studies also cover the effects of inking during the later trimesters. We recommend erring on the side of caution and waiting until your child’s birth.
There is also the chance of an adverse allergic reaction if a pregnant woman gets a tattoo. Even if you have never reacted to the ink before, you can develop allergies when you get a tattoo while pregnant.
Some anecdotal evidence states that you cannot have an epidural if you have a tattoo on your back. While the lack of scientific evidence relegates this to urban legend status, the truth is that we don’t know if there’s a risk of a reaction.
We recommend that our clients with tattoos on their back check that the hospital has no policies against epidurals.
It’s also worth noting that a woman’s hormones during pregnancy lead to mood swings. You might make a spur-of-the-moment decision and regret it later.
Overall, we advise our clients to wait until they finish breastfeeding to ensure that there are no complications. While this may be a slightly overcautious approach, it is the only way to protect your baby completely.
Are Henna Tattoos a Better Option?
Women in the East have applied stunning henna designs to their bodies for good luck during pregnancy. The mother applies the henna during the third trimester to bring a healthy baby into the world.
Natural henna is a safe, temporary alternative you can try instead of a permanent design. However, please be sure that you stick to safe products. Natural henna comes in:
- Red
- Orange
- Brown
- Brick
- Cinnamon
- Coffee
- Chocolate
Black henna is synthetic and unsafe for you to use. We recommend that no one use black henna because it contains a harmful chemical, para-phenylenediamine. This compound can cause your skin to burn, blister, or break out for months after application.
It isn’t easy to diagnose the cause of the reaction when you use black henna, so it is not worth taking a chance. We don’t know what it might do to the fetus, but if it’s harmful to the mom, it’s unhealthy for the baby.
Speak with our team at Beauty and Ink for advice about getting a tattoo while pregnant. Call us at (619) 951-9916 or visit our studio to schedule your consultation. We can discuss the pros and cons with you so that you can make an informed decision.
