Can You Get A Tattoo When Pregnant?

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There’s no doubt that tattoos look great on women. Heck, we think they look great on moms-to-be and new moms alike.

But there’s absolutely nothing sexy about getting a tattoo if pregnant.

Allergic reactions, Hepatitis B, HIV, blood infections… There are many risks involved in getting a tattoo.

And sure, we know you’re itchin’ to book a session with your favorite tattoo artist.

So can you get a tattoo while pregnant?

Below, we’re exploring everything there is to know about why pregnant people should not get a tattoo.

Is It OK To Get A Tattoo While Pregnant?

No, it’s not OK to get a tattoo if you’re pregnant. Even if your artist takes extreme care, uses sterile equipment, and knows exactly what they’re doing, getting a tattoo puts you and your unborn baby at risk.

It might be a bit of a bummer, especially if you and your partner were thinking about getting cool tattoos to commemorate your entrance into parenthood… But it’s just not worth the risks and we’ll explain exactly why below.

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Why You Shouldn’t Get A Tattoo When Pregnant – The Risks

First of all, any reputable tattoo parlor won’t even discuss the idea of you getting a tattoo if they know you’re pregnant. It’s risky and any good tattoo artist won’t put you, your baby, or their tattoo license in jeopardy.

But don’t go hiding that bump either…

You can read online reviews, pick an award-winning tattoo artist, avoid infection with proper tattoo aftercare, but getting a tattoo is still an extremely high risk endeavor.

Here are 6 reasons why you should never get tattooed if pregnant.

• #1 – Allergic Reactions – The risk of having an allergic reaction to a tattoo is rare. But it’s not zero. You could experience a reaction to the ink or any of the supplies you artist might use, such as latex gloves. Having an allergic reaction sets your immune system into overdrive, which could cause intrapartum asphyxia, impacting baby’s brain development, or even causing death to your child.
• #2 – You Could Go Into Shock – If your system goes into shock from getting a tattoo, it could cause a placental abruption. This is an irreversible condition where the placenta detaches from the uterine wall. Aside from that, if you were to pass out from shock and fall over, it could cause injury to you or the baby.
• #3 – Toxins In Tattoo Ink – Tattoo inks are relatively safe. But some tattoo inks, particularly red ink, may contain heavy metals and potential carcinogens. Now, it’s not certain that any these toxins would cause immediate harm to your baby. But it’s a risk. And one that can be easily avoided by NOT getting tattooed during pregnancy.
• #4 – Blood-Borne Pathogens – Another main concern about getting tattooed is that you and your tattoo artist will be in contact with blood. Good tattoo artists take disease control serious and make sure everything in their shop is clean and sterile. But there will always be the risk of contracting blood-borne illnesses like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, or staph infections.
• #5 – Infected Blood And Skin Infections – Skin infections are bad enough on their own, and they can happen even if you keep your tattoo clean. Left untreated, skin infections can spread to your blood and become more serious infections. The dangerous thing about that is if you’re pregnant, you’re sharing your blood with the baby. So if you get a blood infection, your baby will be susceptible to any complications of that infection as well.
• #6 – The Unknown Risks Of Pigment Migration – There’s no direct evidence that tattoos cause cancer. But as mentioned, there is evidence that inks may contain carcinogenic chemicals. There’s also evidence that tattoo pigments can migrate from your skin to your lymph nodes. Therefore, it’s also possible for tattoo pigments to make there way into your baby’s bloodstream via your placenta.

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How To Ruin A Perfectly Good Tattoo

Another reason to avoid getting a tattoo is that pregnancy hormones can cause a bunch skin changes that can impact your new ink. Even if a tattoo appears well-done, your changing skin can cause irreversible changes to a perfectly good tattoo.

Especially if you’re getting a tattoo on your hips or anywhere near your belly, there’s a good chance that as your baby grows, you skin will stretch and distort your brand new tattoo. This can also be an issue if you have an existing tattoo on your abdomen or if you have lower back tattoos, where stretchmarks often appears during pregnancy.

So on top of the fact that it’s dangerous to get a tattoo, there’s also a good chance that your new tattoo won’t look or heal as good as it could.

So just don’t do it!

The Bottom Line: Getting A Tattoo Can Harm Your Baby

Whether you’re in your first trimester, second or third… There’s nothing safe about visiting a tattoo parlor if pregnant. There’s no guarantee that anything bad will happen. But it’s vital you understand risk, and not put yourself or your developing baby in danger.

It’s also good to note that there’s a lack of medical literature about this topic or tattoo and epidural analgesia. In other words, the effects on getting tattooed while pregnant or during delivery are largely unknown.

And that’s precisely why tattoo artists, doctors, healthcare providers, plastic surgeons, OB GYNs, and we’re sure you’re mother too, recommend that pregnant women DO NOT get tattooed.

How To Get Tattooed Safely While Pregnant (But Not Really)

So no tattoos while pregnant. PERIOD! There are no safety tips or precautions you can take that make it safe. But that shouldn’t stop from from expressing yourself and decorating your body to celebrate your coming baby.

Temporary tattoos are a great way to get the same look as a real tattoo during pregnancy, without any of the risks. Plus, it’s easy to remove temporary tattoos and they won’t be stretched or distorted while your belly grows.

You could also purchase tattoo sleeve shirts or garments. These can be worn to simulate the look of you having tattoos, without taking those risks.

Or, just wait it out!

You’ve already got enough on your hands planning for when baby arrives. So don’t waste it thinking about getting a tattoo. You’ll have plenty of time to get inked once your child graduates from college and moves out!

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Frequently Asked Questions – Can You Get A Tattoo While Pregnant?

Now, non of the risks we’ve discussed are guaranteed to harm your child. In fact, you could get a tattoo while pregnant, everything goes fine, and no harm comes to your unborn baby.

But the fact is that getting a tattoo while pregnant poses a risk. And it can be avoided by waiting until after you’ve delivered to get your next ink fix.

How long after giving birth is it safe to get a tattoo?

As soon as you’ve delivered and you’re no longer sharing the same circulatory system with your baby, it’s safe to get tattooed. There are obviously still risks involved in getting a tattoo, but you won’t be putting you unborn baby at risk, which is all you should care about.

Is it safe to breastfeed while pregnant?

No, you should not get a tattoo while breastfeeding. Many of the same risks, such as infections and exposure to dangerous ink pigments and dyes can have a negative impact on your breast milk. On the other hand, it’s perfectly safe to get a tattoo if you’re feeding your child with formula.

Is tattoo removal safe for pregnant women?

According to dermatology associations, laser tattoo removal is safe. But it’s not completely risk-free, especially if pregnant. Tattoo removal still carries risks that could impact your unborn child. Tattoo removal creams are also unsafe to use while pregnant. Thinking about getting a tattoo removed? Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider to learn more about tattoo removal options and pregnancy.

Are black henna tattoos safe during pregnancy?

No! Henna tattoo inks often contain skin dyes and chemicals like para-phenylenediamine, which are not particularly safe for anyone, including pregnant women. These chemicals can cause serious reactions, burns, blisters and permanent scarring. Not something you want to experience while carrying.

Are piercings safe during pregnancy?

According to the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, body art isn’t likely to interfere with your baby. But as we’ve outlined above, there are still many risks involved in getting tattoos and piercings if you’re pregnant. So it’s best not to risk it.

Bottom line: NO tattoos if you’re carrying a child. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use our innovative AI tattoo generator to play around with cool tattoo ideas and designs for after you deliver. Try it today!