Skip to main content

Can you get a tattoo while breastfeeding? What you need to know about getting inked up while nursing

When is it safe for a postpartum woman to get skin ink?

mom with tattoos breastfeeding
Irina Tarzian / Shutterstock

Many women are eager to enjoy certain things they give up during pregnancy after they welcome their baby. However, when a woman chooses to breastfeed, there are many considerations she must continue to make, like whether she can drink alcohol or caffeine. And if you’re a big fan of getting new ink, one question you might have is, “Can you get a tattoo while breastfeeding?”

Recommended Videos

The answer isn’t entirely clear, but we’ve gathered expert information to help you make an educated decision. Expressing your individual style doesn’t stop with parenthood so get that tat, but let’s figure out if the timing should wait until after weaning.

Can you get a tattoo while breastfeeding? It’s best not to because of some possible risks

tattooed mom with baby
Irina Tarzian / Shutterstock

There is no evidence that tattoo ink can enter breastmilk, and there have been no studies about the safety of getting tattoos while breastfeeding. Despite this, it is still generally advised against, out of caution. Tattoo ink contains heavy metals, including lead and arsenic, that enter under your skin in the tattooing process, and if there is a chance that can be absorbed into your system to enter breastmilk, it could have serious effects. There are also other factors to consider, such as infection risk. Because of all this, it’s best to wait until after weaning.

As of 2019, The Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health says, “You should not get a tattoo if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an allergy to nickel or chromium.”

Pre-existing tattoos are safe for breastfeeding.

What are the risks of tattooing while breastfeeding?

mom on floor with baby
LightField Studios / Shutterstock

First, there are risks of infection, disease transmission, or allergic reactions when you get a tattoo. If any of these concerns occurred, it could affect your baby via breastfeeding. Getting a tattoo with dirty instruments could give you a blood infection like HIV, hepatitis C, or tetanus, some of which can be passed through breast milk. Needing to take an antibiotic for a skin infection can create thrush on your breast and in your baby’s mouth, which can cause pain while breastfeeding.

There is also the healing tattoo to consider. Depending on the location, a fresh tattoo could make different positions difficult to place your baby. If the tattoo is on your arm, chest, thigh, or hand, avoiding having your baby or breastmilk rub the healing tattoo often could be difficult and complicate the healing process, risking infection.

La Leche League says: “It is generally assumed that ink molecules are too large to pass into breastmilk during the tattoo process. Once injected into the skin, the ink is trapped; however, it is unknown whether the ink can pass into breastmilk as it slowly breaks down in the body months to years later.”

The organization also adds: “Most tattooists will not knowingly tattoo a pregnant or breastfeeding mother. This is for liability reasons on the tattoo artist’s part, but also to prevent any disease that might affect the growing baby, and to allow the mother’s body time to heal. It is suggested that mothers wait at least until 9 to 12 months after birth, when the child is no longer dependent solely on breastmilk, before getting a tattoo. Reputable tattoo artists will have a waiver for the client to sign that asks about pregnancy and breastfeeding.”

How long should you wait after childbirth to get a tattoo?

woman getting a tattoo on her arm
Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock

Again, there are no hard and fast rules as to how long you should wait to get a tattoo after childbirth, especially if you are not breastfeeding, but some experts suggest waiting at least a year for those who are not breastfeeding before getting new ink, with an additional six months to a year added on after stopping breastfeeding for those who do.

Skin changes like stretch marks and melasma can all occur during pregnancy and could affect how a new tattoo might look. Allowing your body to adjust to its postpartum state and your hormones to settle after childbirth are all important factors in ensuring you get the best result for your tattoo.

Can you get a tattoo removed while breastfeeding?

New mother talks to doctor
SDI Productions / Getty Images

There have also been no studies about tattoo removal while breastfeeding. Tattoo removal works by using a laser to break down the ink into smaller particles that your body absorbs and filters out through your immune system and liver. According to La Leche League, “it is unknown whether the ink particles are small enough to enter breastmilk” so they suggest you wait until you’re done breastfeeding to have any tattoos removed. Just like with getting a tattoo, we just don’t know if removing a tattoo is safe, so err on the side of caution by delaying until after weaning.

While it’s a personal choice and there is no hard evidence that it is dangerous, it’s generally advised to wait. Since getting or removing a tattoo isn’t urgent and breastfeeding is temporary, why not wait just in case an infection pops up or it is possible that the hard metals in the ink passed through breastmilk? It could also be uncomfortable to breastfeed, lift, and care for a baby while a tattoo is healing. If it does feel urgent to get or remove a tattoo for a particular reason, consult with your doctor and your baby’s pediatrician and research clean and reputable tattoo salons and artists first.

Sarah Prager
Sarah is a writer and mom who lives in Massachusetts. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, National…
Baby refusing solid foods? Here’s why, and what you can do about it
Understanding your baby's resistance to solid foods
Woman feeding baby in a high chair

Introducing solid foods to your baby is an exciting time. It's a milestone that may go smoothly for some, but not quite as simple for others. If your little one wants nothing to do with these new foods, you may desperately be looking for answers as to why they're refusing solid food options.
We know that sourpuss not-having-it face all too well. And if that mini-me of yours wants nothing to do with the spoon, the bib, or the puree in front of them, a power struggle will ensue -- and, spoiler alert: You are not going to win. Nevertheless, it can be distressing for parents when their little bottle-chugging sweetheart goes on a solids strike (or incessantly spits, gags, and cries!). Fortunately, it's usually not a cause for concern: there could be several factors at play to cause the issue of baby refusing solid foods. Here are a few common reasons why your baby might be rejecting your feeding attempts -- and some gentle ways to coax them to eat a bit more.

Baby is just not ready yet

Read more
Authoritative parenting: What you need to know
Is authoritative parenting the right style for your family?
Teenage girl fighting with parents

While everything may look like sunshine and rainbows when families post happy pictures on social media, parents know that image isn't always true life. Parenting is probably the most difficult and often thankless job you will ever have. It is the most important, though. If you're on TikTok, you've probably seen videos touting different parenting styles, like almond moms or scrunchy moms, as well as elephant parents. All the discussion about parenting styles can make new and veteran moms and dads wonder what the ideal approach to raising kids is.

In the 1960s, three main parenting types were identified and studied by developmental psychologist Diana Baumrind. These parenting styles included authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive. The 1980s brought uninvolved parenting into the mix. This style was introduced by psychologists Eleanor Maccoby and John Martin. Authoritative parenting is often confused with authoritarian, but the two are actually different. The authoritative parenting style finds a constructive medium between authoritarian and permissive parents. This balance is why many parenting experts feel it's the ideal way to raise confident and well-adjusted kiddos. So, what exactly is authoritative parenting, and is it the right style for your family?
Four main parenting styles

Read more
Do pregnancy tests expire? What you should know
Find out if you should use one past the expiration date
Woman excited at pregnancy test

From over-the-counter medicines to things in your fridge, we worry about the expiration dates of items that go into our bodies. Some things you could get away with trying past the expiration date, but with others, you don't want to compromise on the quality. One of those items you don't want to play around with is a pregnancy test. Whether you want a positive or a negative result, you don't want that to fail you. Do pregnancy tests expire? Can you use a pregnancy past the expiration date? Here's what to know about how good the pregnancy test you have in the cabinet is.
When a pregnancy test expires

Have you noticed one on your bottled water? Everything has an expiration date. Yes, even a pregnancy test has an expiration date. Most pregnancy tests will last one to three years after the manufacturing date, some two to three years. That is a huge spread, sure, and an expired pregnancy test isn't something you want to hope is still good. To keep it safe, don't buy any tests that are a few months away from the expiration date. You can't take a test until you are a week late (with most), so there has to be some wriggle room.
Digital vs. non-digital tests
Are digital and non-digital tests the same when it comes to the expiration date? Yes. They both have a shelf life of the same time frame. There might be a difference in how you read the various tests, but both non-digital and digital pregnancy tests have expiration dates. Look at the bottom of the box and on the individual package to find it.
Get the most out of your pregnancy test

Read more