Research-backed
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For every woman, pregnancy is a special time. Some women want to preserve this moment forever. And, what better way to do it than a tattoo. Or maybe, you already had a tattoo before getting pregnant. But, have you ever wondered whether a tattoo is safe for you as well as your baby? We are sure you would have had these concerns. If you have, then we are here to provide you with information that can help you determine the same. So, first things first, let us discuss safety when it comes to tattoos.
There are certain guidelines that every tattoo artist needs to follow. And, you need to make sure that your artist does too. Here, we will discuss some of these:
- Makes sure that your tattoo artist is a registered practitioner (in case, artists are registered in your area).
- Ensure that he/she is wearing the gloves when performing the process.
- Check out the place and see whether or not there is a sterilizing equipment such as an autoclave.
- The place is hygienic, which means the surfaces and floors are clean.
- The needles being used are fresh, disposable, and can be used only once.
- Ensure that the dressings as well as dyes/inks are packed, sterile, and sealed.
- The tattoo artist should be available to assist you in case of any need in the next 24 hours.
If you have already gotten a tattoo and doubt the facility’s practices, ensure you get a test done for Syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis.
Give It A Second Thought
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When it comes to getting a tattoo done, the biggest concern is the risk of getting infected, be it HIV or Hepatitis (1). Even though the risk might be minuscule, it might still be better to wait until your baby is here.
Pretty little information is out there when it comes to the safety of ink, which is used to make tattoos, at the time of pregnancy. Though having an ink allergy is rare, it may result in scarring and inflammation (2). There are chances that the chemicals present in the skin dye may affect your baby’s growth and development during the initial 12 weeks of gestation. However, there is no concrete proof regarding its effects on the fetus for the remaining part of the pregnancy (3).
There are also talks about how a tattoo on the back can hinder the chances of getting an epidural during labor. Epidural is one of the most known methods of providing relief from pain during labor (4). There is not much research that has been done on the correlation between a back tattoo and an epidural anesthesia. One of the studies indicates how anesthesiologists need to try and avoid injecting through the area covered by a tattoo, mostly because of the theoretical risks involved (5). However, whatever may be the case, it is best to discuss the possibility of epidural with your doc in the early visits itself.
And Henna?
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For ages, several women in India have applied beautiful Henna designs on their baby bumps during the third trimester to bring in “good luck”. As per the legend, Henna is said to keep the baby safe and happy.
If you want to give this alternative a shot, you must know about the different Henna types available in the market. The natural and safe one will stain the skin red, orange, cinnamon, brown, chocolate, brick, or coffee. This one will last somewhere between one and four weeks. However, know that this one doesn’t come in the color black. It is important to make sure that your artist uses the natural and safe one. And, definitely not the black one.
Black henna is known to have harmful effects, with or without pregnancy. It may be made of color, “coal tar”, and p-phenylenediamine, which is also called PPD. It may cause an allergic reaction to some people. There are also reports of black henna causing skin irritations, scarring, and infections (6).
The decision to get a tattoo made is ultimately yours. But, if you don’t already have a tattoo, you may want to wait until after pregnancy. And, if you already do, there is no need to fret. In either case, consult your medical professional once because he/she will be able to help you out the best. Good luck!
