Health organizations and medical professionals generally advise against getting new tattoos while pregnant, urging individuals to wait until after the baby is born. This recommendation is based on several potential health risks that affect both the parent and the developing fetus. Prioritizing a healthy pregnancy over body art is the consensus among experts.
Why Medical Professionals Advise Against New Tattoos
The primary concern is the risk of contracting a systemic infection. The tattooing process involves repeatedly puncturing the skin, creating a risk of pathogens entering the body. This includes contracting bloodborne diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV if the equipment is not properly sterilized. An infection contracted by the parent can potentially be passed to the fetus, particularly Hepatitis C, which has a transmission risk of up to 6% from mother to child.
Even a localized skin infection at the tattoo site can be a serious issue during pregnancy. An aggressive bacterial infection may require antibiotic treatment, and the safety of many antibiotics for the developing fetus is not well-studied. Furthermore, a pregnant person’s immune system is naturally altered, which can make them more susceptible to complications from an infection.
Tattoo pigments are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for injection into the skin and can contain heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, or lead. Since the chemicals within the ink can enter the bloodstream, there is a theoretical risk that these substances could affect the developing baby. This risk is highest during the first trimester when major organs are forming. Insufficient research exists to determine the long-term impact of these chemicals on the fetus.
Pregnant individuals experience hormonal fluctuations that can increase skin sensitivity and the likelihood of developing allergic reactions to the tattoo ink. Treatment options for reactions, such as corticosteroids, may not be considered safe during pregnancy. Due to these risks and the lack of comprehensive safety data, the safest course of action is to postpone any new tattoos until after delivery.
Tattoo Placement and Epidural Anesthesia Concerns
A specific concern for pregnant people with existing lower back tattoos is the procedure for receiving an epidural during labor. The theoretical risk is that the needle could push pigmented tissue into the spinal canal. This tissue could potentially cause neurological complications or form a benign tumor, though this has never been definitively reported in humans.
Anesthesiologists take this theoretical risk seriously and carefully assess the tattoo before administration. If the tattoo is fully healed and stable with no signs of active infection or inflammation, the procedure is generally considered safe. If the tattoo covers the entire lower back, the anesthesiologist may look for a small gap in the design to insert the needle.
If a clear area is unavailable, they might use a technique called “nicking,” which involves making a small incision through the skin and ink layer before inserting the needle. This measure helps bypass the pigmented layer and minimizes the chance of dragging ink particles into the deeper tissue. A healed lower back tattoo is not an absolute contraindication for receiving an epidural, but it requires a case-by-case evaluation.
Caring for Existing Tattoos and Future Planning
Existing tattoos, particularly those on the abdomen, hips, and breasts, will likely undergo changes as the body expands during pregnancy. Skin stretching can cause the tattoo to become distorted, making the pigment appear faded or stretched out. Maintaining good skin health and hydration can help manage these changes by improving skin elasticity.
For those planning new body art after the baby arrives, the timeline extends beyond the delivery room. Experts advise waiting until after the postpartum healing period and after breastfeeding has concluded. While ink molecules are generally thought to be too large to pass into breast milk, the primary risk remains the potential for contracting a severe infection.
An infection acquired during the tattooing process could become systemic and pose a threat to the nursing parent. Many experts recommend waiting until the baby is fully weaned before getting a new tattoo. This ensures that any potential complications, particularly those requiring medication or involving a systemic infection, will not affect the infant.