Written by Pradeep
Congratulations on your newborn! If you are someone who is a tattoo lover, then after your baby is born, you may be longing to get his /her name inked onto your body in permanent remembrance of how much you love your little one. But then you may be wondering if it is safe to get a tattoo done while you are still breastfeeding your baby? Keep reading this article to know if it is safe to get a tattoo done while breastfeeding, what are the possible side effects and what precautions you need to take when getting yourself inked.
Tattoos are made by injecting ink into the body in the skin’s dermal layer. A tattoo artist uses a hand-held machine which has needles coated in the ink. These needles pierce the skin hundreds of times a minute and with a few millimeters depth.
It is not unsafe to get a tattoo done while you are nursing your baby. This is because the ink molecules are too big to pass into breastmilk. Your baby will in no way get exposed to it. But to be on the safer side, wait for sufficient time after delivery before getting yourself inked. Let your body recover completely from childbirth before you indulge yourself into getting a tattoo made.
When you are going to get a tattoo there are several things you should look at so that you come out with a clean and healthy tattoo. General instructions about tattooing also apply to breastfeeding moms. These include:
FDA has not approved any tattoo pigments for use on or under the skin. Some inks contain pigments that have industrial-grade colors which are used in automobile paint or printers’ ink. FDA has warned that anyone getting a tattoo is at a risk of developing some infections. (Source)
The risks involved in having a tattoo are the same if breastfeeding or not. Here are some of the risks involved in having a tattoo done:
Nowadays it’s easier to get the tattoo removed using lasers. The laser emits energy that causes breaking up of tattoo pigment into smaller particles. These are filtered out by the immune system of your body. The whole removal process is bloodless, involves very less risk and has negligible side effects. You need to take care of the area while breastfeeding in the similar way as you would have if you got yourself inked.
If you are weary of getting a cosmetic tattoo done on your body while you are breastfeeding because of the risk of infections then henna tattoo could be something that you can consider when nursing your baby. Just make sure that the henna that you use is natural and free from chemicals.
Though getting a tattoo is considered safe while you are nursing, but it is necessary that a breastfeeding mom must weigh the potential risks to her body, no matter how small, before deciding to get a tattoo. Take an informed decision.
Did you get your baby’s name inked on your body while you were breastfeeding? Did you have any harmful effects? Do share your experiences in the comments section below.
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