i want to get a tattoo but i'm still breastfeeding

Jaime - posted on 07/27/2009

sorry i misunderstood.



i would just hate for her to be sorry, because she took the wrong advise.



the laws are probably not in place for the same reason there are no laws against drinking, smoking or eating sushi.

it's the mothers choice and unhealthy decisions should be discussed with doctors and experts, not people who at best are making an educated guess, which is exactly what i'm doing, except my educated guesses won't hurt any one if i'm wrong about things like heavy metals in the ink. the metals stay in the sweet spot in your skin so they don't go in the bloodstream, but, they are still there, the risk to the baby isn't a fact but it is something to consider. it is amazing that people would worry about the paint on toys but not what they are putting in there own system.



waiting has absolutly no risk at all.



i'm going to shut up now, i hope this was a little helpful.

Claire - posted on 07/27/2009

Oh no I'm not implying that you made it up and totally agree with you; Whats a year or two when you could be putting your baby at risk! There should definitely be some laws put into play somewhere though:)

Jaime - posted on 07/27/2009

tatto ink is not aproved by the FDA to be injected into the skin. most states don't even require you to have a liscence, or you to be inspected by the health department. i'm lust saying...it's not that long to wait, and if it's more important than your childs health than just ween your child now, and get the tattoo. the info i posted above came from http://www.llli.org/FAQ/tattoos.html the la leche leauge web site, i'm not just making it up.

Claire - posted on 07/27/2009

Its weird that some tattoo artists will tattoo a breastfeeding woman if there is the risk that you mentioned above. There should be a law put into place or something because I was under the understanding that it was fine after asking a few tattoo artists in the uk.

Jaime - posted on 07/27/2009

Many, if not most, professional tattooists will not tattoo a woman who is currently pregnant or breastfeeding. World-reknowned tattoo artist Pat Fish of Santa Barbara, California, USA says:

There is always an element of risk in getting a tattoo. The tattoo could have an adverse effect on the mother’s immune system that could be transmitted to the baby.



While the body is healing after a tattoo—and producing milk—and if the mother’s body would "reject" the tattoo, the possibility exists that it could harm the baby. This is especially a problem if the client does not follow the aftercare instructions and develops an infection. Alex Stewart of a former natural parenting Web site in the UK suggests that mothers give their bodies 18 months to fully recover from childbirth before asking it to heal a tattoo.



The general information about tattooing also applies to breastfeeding women. According to the research, local and systemic infections are the most prevalent risks of tattooing. Local infections can occur. The aftercare regimen includes keeping the tattoo clean with mild soap and water, not picking at the scabs, and keeping the tattoo out of the sun. Systemic infections occur when universal precautions are not followed by the tattoo artist and can include such diseases as hepatitis, tetanus, and HIV.



this is from the la leche league web site....all i was saying is why take risks when it isn't nessesary.

Jocelyn - posted on 07/27/2009

this isn't quite on topic, but it was mentioned so i will elaborate on it a bit :) the more common reason for not getting a tattoo while pregnant is the risk of miscarriage/pre-term labor caused by the massive release of endorphins (and because tattooing causes your body pain and trauma, when you're body feels pain, your body also reacts in a physiological manner, and that can cause stress and tension).

Jaime - posted on 07/27/2009

this isn't something that is tested or researched, the inks DO contain heavy metals. any one who says it's ok is only guessing. ask a lactation specialist, but i think better safe than sorry. you will be finished breastfeeding before you know it. get the tattoo to commemorate that. it can wait, there is no reason to be impatient when it comes to tattoos.

Claire - posted on 07/27/2009

I got one when my son was nine months and my tattooo artist said that it was fine. The only risk would be if the tattoo didn't heal properly and you got sceptacimia which can travel through the blood stream and poison your child but the risk of that happening is very very slim. If you saw that it was going sour you could just go and get some antibiotics before it got to a bad stage. I would say do it but make sure you keep it clean:) good luck.



Im just looking into getting a huge one down the left side of my torso but recently had both my son's name and hubbys name tattoed on my wrist and neck:)

Jaime - posted on 07/27/2009

i worked in a tattoo shop as an apprentice for a year, and i don't really recommend getting one while breastfeeding. the reason i say this is because the ink contains heavy metals, that's why you can't while pregnant. i love tattoos and i'm all for them, but it's not worth the risk to your baby. any thing that you want on you forever can wait a year.

Claire - posted on 07/27/2009

I had a few recently and my tattoo artist said that he wasn't aware of any risks.

Jocelyn - posted on 07/26/2009

Tracy, no you don't have to wait for a full year, as long as you've healed completely and without any complications, go for it :)

Tracy - posted on 07/26/2009

Well now I stopped breastfeeding, but my daughter is 7 months old. I was thinking of getting one in the fall. Do you really have to wait the year?

Mary - posted on 07/02/2009

no dont do it! i know i want to get one too...but have to wait until i stop nursing

Emily - posted on 07/02/2009

thanks for all the help and info everyone. :o)

Melissa - posted on 07/02/2009

I've done the research because I will be getting one while I am breast feeding and its perfectly safe, just some tattoo artists might not do it..I just wouldn't tell them..IF you trust them to be clean and sanitary it doesn't matter! :) Hope that helps!

Jocelyn - posted on 07/01/2009

my hubby is a tattoo artist and it is slightly frowned upon while you are nursing (because there is a risk of infection/disease, which could pass thru the milk) .

i have gotten tattoos while breastfeeding, but it was after my son was one yr old (and they aren't so dependent on bfing) and had had sufficient time to heal correctly.

so to answer your question, yes you can get a tattoo, nothing will pass to the milk (ink-wise, unless you catch an infection/disease, which is prevented by going to a place with proper sterilization procedures and following proper aftercare.)

Vicki - posted on 07/01/2009

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/tattoos.html

"...the ink molecules are too large to pass into breastmilk."

"Local and systemic infections are the most prevalent risks of tattooing."

"Most tattooists will not knowingly tattoo a pregnant or breastfeeding mother. It is suggested that mothers wait at least until the child's first birthday to give their bodies a chance to recover completely from childbirth before getting a tattoo."

Tracy - posted on 07/01/2009

I can't help you, I am looking for the same answer myself!!!