It is generally advised to avoid getting a new tattoo during pregnancy. The medical community maintains a strong consensus against the practice, primarily because of concerns related to infection, the unknown effects of ink chemicals, and the lack of specific safety data in pregnant individuals. This recommendation is a precautionary measure.
Risks Related to Infection and Bloodborne Pathogens
The act of tattooing creates an open wound, which carries an inherent risk of localized bacterial infection, even in a sterile environment. The body’s immune system is altered during pregnancy, which may increase susceptibility or complicate treatment. An aggressive localized infection, if left untreated, can progress to cellulitis or even enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to bacteremia or sepsis.
A more serious concern is the risk of contracting bloodborne pathogens through contaminated needles or unsterile equipment. Viruses such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can be transmitted if the tattoo artist does not follow strict sterilization and hygiene protocols. If a pregnant individual contracts one of these infections, there is a risk of vertical transmission, meaning the virus can pass to the fetus or newborn. For example, a mother with Hepatitis B has a high probability of passing the infection to her baby during birth, which can lead to a lifelong chronic infection for the child.
Concerns Regarding Ink Composition and Fetal Exposure
Tattoo inks are complex chemical mixtures containing pigments and carriers, and their safety is not strictly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for injection into the skin. The pigments often contain heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury, or organic colorants like azo dyes. When ink is deposited into the dermis, trace amounts of these components or their breakdown products may enter the bloodstream.
The primary concern is whether these circulating chemicals can cross the placental barrier and affect the developing fetus, especially during the first trimester when organ development is occurring. While direct evidence of harm is limited, the precautionary principle suggests avoiding exposure to substances that could be teratogenic, or cause developmental abnormalities. Furthermore, some inks contain unlisted additives noted for potential health risks.
Specific Issues: Tattoos and Epidurals
A practical concern involves existing tattoos located on the lower back, where an epidural would be administered during labor. The theoretical risk is that the epidural needle could core out a small plug of pigmented skin and deposit it into the spinal or epidural space. This could potentially introduce tattoo pigment into deeper tissues, although reports of actual complications from this mechanism are extremely rare.
Anesthesiologists typically take precautions to avoid this theoretical risk when placing the needle. They will try to insert the needle through a clear patch of skin within the tattoo design or use a different space along the lumbar spine. If a clear area is unavailable, the anesthesiologist may make a small, superficial incision with a scalpel before inserting the needle. This removes the top layer of tattooed skin and reduces the chance of coring. The presence of a healed tattoo does not automatically prevent the administration of an epidural, but infected or recently done tattoos in the lumbar area would generally contraindicate the procedure.
Official Medical Guidance and Timing
The general medical guidance from major health organizations is to postpone getting a new tattoo until after delivery. This recommendation stems from the lack of specific research on tattoo safety in pregnancy and the desire to avoid unnecessary risks to the developing baby. No trimester is considered completely safe for the procedure, though the first trimester carries the highest risk for potential chemical exposure due to the rapid formation of fetal organs.
Waiting until after the baby is born allows the mother’s body to recover and eliminates the risk of transmitting a new infection or chemical exposure to the fetus. It is often recommended to wait until after breastfeeding is complete, as well, to ensure no potential ink components or infection-fighting medications could theoretically pass through breast milk, although the size of ink molecules makes this unlikely.