Pregnant women should not get a tattoo during pregnancy. It is a contraindicated procedure and can bring many risks both for the child’s development and the mother’s health. According to specialists, it is recommended that women wait at least 40 days after childbirth to get a tattoo. During pregnancy, in addition to the tremendous natural hormonal changes occurring in a woman’s body, the skin also adapts to all the spatial needs the child will have1. Therefore, even if there were no risks for the baby, with the changes that occur in the skin, which stretches a lot, women could not be sure how the design would look after postpartum recovery. Most gynecologists and obstetricians warn that, due to the major hormonal, emotional, and immune system changes (since a woman’s immunity is lower), getting a tattoo is not recommended2. This is because it can also cause problems such as infections and inflammations that require medication, which is a major problem during pregnancy, since most medications can harm the child’s health. If the pregnant woman has a tattoo on her back, for example, it can cause problems at the time of anesthesia administration if the tattoo is recent.

Some Risk Factors for the Baby’s Health

Medication use – The baby may be affected in several ways; in case of any inflammation or infection, the pregnant woman will have to take medications (even with restrictions due to pregnancy) and no medication is good for a developing child. Viral infections – Another factor to consider is that you cannot be completely sure of the safety of the studio where the tattoo will be done, the origin of the inks used is unknown, and if the materials are not properly sterilized, there may be a risk of contamination by viruses such as hepatitis B, C, and even HIV. Developmental delays in the child – When a woman undergoes a tattoo procedure, blood pressure can drop, and hormonal changes can occur, especially due to the pain caused by the puncturing and ink insertion process. Drastic changes in blood pressure can reduce the amount of blood carrying oxygen to the baby, which may delay the child’s development. Malformations – The skin is the largest absorption organ in the human body and is exposed; the ink inserted during a tattoo releases chemical substances into the bloodstream, which may result in alterations to fetal development.

What If I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant?

In cases where a woman got a tattoo without knowing she was pregnant, it is important to inform the obstetrician so that all tests, such as HIV and hepatitis, can be performed to check for any infections or risks to the baby. Most tattoo artists refuse to tattoo pregnant women exactly because they know about the restrictions and risks it can cause to both the mother and the baby. In fact, this can even be a criterion to help identify whether the tattoo studio is trustworthy. During pregnancy, women naturally become more emotionally vulnerable, and so the sudden desire for a tattoo can also arise. Although most doctors recommend that women wait at least 40 days after childbirth, the ideal would actually be to wait until after the breastfeeding period, since the chemical substances in the ink released into the bloodstream could be transferred to the baby through breast milk. See Also: Can Pregnant Women Drive? Photo: mvorocha