Our site uses cookies to make your experience on this site even better. We hope you think that is sweet.

Yes, I am okay. Know more
Planning for a baby?
Already Pregnant?
Have a Baby?
Have a Toddler?
Positive Parenting
Baby Names
Child Safety
Cord Blood
Life Skills
Premature Baby
Twins
Have a baby?
Mother Care

Is It Safe To Get A Tattoo While Breastfeeding?

4 min read

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.
tattoo breastfeeding

Is It Safe To Get A Tattoo While Breastfeeding?

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.

What Precautions Should You Take To Get A Tattoo While Breastfeeding?

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:

  • Do not get yourself inked on the chest or breasts. This is because it may be difficult for you to take care of the tattoo in these areas while you are breastfeeding
  • Look for reputed tattoo parlors in your city. Just don’t go to any random place. Make sure you visit a reputed tattoo artist. Do proper research
  • Make sure that there is good lighting when you are getting a tattoo done. This ensures a good looking as well as a clean tattoo
  • Make sure the tattoo artist is using sterilized single-use glove and new containers before starting with making a tattoo on your body
  • Sterilization is very important. Make sure he is using sterilized equipment and the ink gun that he is using is kept in a proper and sterile place. Also, ensure everything is opened in front of you. So when you sit down to have your tattoo done, there should not be any opened needles, ink cups already. It should all be opened just before they begin to put a tattoo on you to avoid cross contamination
  • Make sure that your tattooist washes his hands thoroughly with a disinfectant soap
  • It is very important to follow the aftercare instructions for a tattoo. These include:
    • Cleaning the tattoo area effectively using antibiotic gels
    • Lookout for any signs of infection on skin, pain or redness
    • Protect the tattoo from direct sunlight
    • Do not pick up at the scab
    • Avoid alcohol while tattoo is getting healed
What Are The Risks Involved In Getting A Tattoo While Breastfeeding?

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:

  • Allergic reaction: A few nursing moms may have an allergic reaction to the tattoo ink because of which she may have to halt breastfeeding
  • Bumps or scars: Sometimes getting a tattoo can lead to the formation of scar tissue or bumps and knots known as granulomas that may form around material (ink pigment) that body perceives as a foreign object. Keep a watch on this and let your doctor know about it. These may not be risky for your baby but may require antibiotic treatment. Let your doctor know you are breastfeeding so that he prescribes antibiotics that are safe for nursing moms
  • Infections: The risk is associated with any infection that you can get from the tattooing process. Since tattooing involves using needles, if not done under sterilized conditions, it can lead to infections like HIV, hepatitis, and tetanus. Some of these infections may not pass to your baby through breastmilk, but there can be a risk of the nipples getting cracked and bleeding. It can hamper the mother’s capability to continue breastfeeding
  • MRI complications: Some women may develop swelling or burning in the tattoo when they have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done. This happens rarely and does not last for a long time. But make sure you let your doctor know that you have a tattoo if he orders an MRI

tattoo in breastfeeding

Is Removing A Tattoo Unsafe During Breastfeeding?

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.

What Are The Other Temporary Alternatives To A Tattoo?

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.

Responses (0)

Please check a captcha
Read this next

Mental Health Tips for New Parents

Becoming a parent is overwhelming. It's often something that we spend a long time looking forward to and preparing for - sometimes, far longer than the 40 weeks of pregnancy. But, no matter how prepared you think you are, when your baby arrives, everything changes. It's never quite what we expect, even when we're welcoming home our second or even third babies. It's more exciting, it's more work, and it's definitely more exhausting. It's just more. New parenthood is like an assault on your emotions, as well as your hormones. You are busy trying to take care of a new life, your hormone levels are off the charts, your whole world is turned upside down, and any hopes of a good night's sleep are long forgotten. It's no surprise that your mental health might take a hit. Here's a look at some of the things that you can do to boost your mental health in those astounding first days of parenthood. Rest When You Can One of the most unsettling elements of being a new parent is the tiredness. You thought you'd been tired before, but not like this. Even if your newborn sleeps well, they'll be up at least a couple of times in the night for feeds and changes, and you are unlikely to get more than....

3 min read

Everybody Look at Your Hands

How to encourage children to wash their hands   Being a parent during the COVID-19 pandemic is incredibly difficult. That’s not exactly a secret: everything from school to social engagements to birthdays has been fundamentally changed in 2020. This year it’s all about keeping our kids safe while at the same time allowing them to have as close to a normal childhood as possible. Other than completely locking down at home, there are few options for keeping them virus-free. Masks are playing a critical role in safety for everyone, adults and children alike. That’s why they’re mandatory at most schools and daycare centers, not to mention on playgrounds and other public areas where large numbers of people gather. The other surefire way to keep kids safe is making sure that they wash their hands whenever they enter our homes, and if they frequently use hand sanitizer in public spaces. This all makes sense on paper, but we all know that kids have minds of their own. It is one thing to tell a child that he or she needs to wash their hands, but that doesn’t always mean that they listen. This sort of limit testing is part of a normal childhood, but in 2020, it can have....

3 min read

Finding Ways to Help Kids Exercise

We all know just how important it is for kids to get their recommended dose of active exercise. It is essential for fundamental development, especially in a child’s early years. Research also has proven that kids who exercise at a young age have a better chance of keeping healthy habits later in their adult life.   Getting enough exercise.   Children have varying degrees of energy. While some have what could almost be called endless energy, others may be more lethargic. This is particularly true today, where there are a range of devices to keep kids sedentary.   From smart phones, tablets, to video games and TV, getting a kid outside can be a challenge. But it’s an important aspect to their wellbeing. Physical activity guidelines outline that children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years should do 1 hour or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.   Make exercising fun   While these guidelines may seem impossible for some children, you shouldn’t lose hope! There are ways that can help you integrate exercise into your child’s life. One of the best ways of doing this is disguising physical activity as play.   Below....

3 min read

What to Feed the Baby in the First Year

The first year is always critical for the new baby. What will she eat, what will she wear, how to keep her safe, vaccinations… these are common questions all first-time parents ask. Food is, of course, very important because it is directly related to the development and the child’s growth. Babies breastfeeding will take between 8 and 12 feedings in a day. Those on formula foods will need between 6 and 10 feeds a day. Usually, solid foods will be introduced when the baby is around 6 months. Always remember, nutrition is key in the 1st year. Make sure to start a healthy eating habit quickly for your infant. But the feeding must always depend on the readiness of a child because every baby is different.     How Often an Infant Must Feed They are still very small, but they can know when feeling full or hungry. Feed her whenever she feels hungry. Each breastfeeding session is usually between 10-15 minutes. Formula and breastfeedings can be done deep into the night as well if the infant wakes up and cries because she is feeling hungry. Some parents add rice cereals to the bottle to make the baby sleep through the night. This is not recommended because it can easily....

5 min read

Want personalized reading and shopping suggestions for your exact stage of pregnancy?

Come on, sell the idea of signing up with us in two lines so well that they HAVE to sign up.

Sign Up
image

Top 5 picks

  • 1

     Is It Safe to Take Alprazolam (Xanax) While Breastfeeding?

  • 2

    'Baby Talking' Or 'Parentese' - What's Your Pick?

  • 3

    10 Alarming Postnatal Symptoms That Need Medical Attention

  • 4

    10 Best Weaning Foods For Your Baby

  • 5

    10 Common Mistakes That New Parents Make

Want curated content sharply tailored for your exact stage of pregnancy?

Sign Up
Load More

165+ Services.

6+ Cities.

60K+ Parents Reviewed.

Explore Local Services.

Get regular updates, great recommendations and other right stuff at the right time.

Begin typing to search