Breastfeeding & Tattoos

I would think there could be a good chance it could affect you, but I really have no idea either, so I agree, talk to a doctor!

How about you take that money you'd spend on a tattoo and put it into a college fund for your baby? You'd be doing something good for both of you.

I suppose if you go some place reputable, you might be alright. Otherwise you risk hepatitis, and perhaps a few other diseases which could effectively mean your milk would not be healthy to feed to your child. Why not just wait till you've weened your child before worrying about about the tattoo? Women breast feed anywhere from 6 months to a year and sometimes 2 years. However long you do it, it doesn't seem like that long a time to wait.

I had my daughter in early August and got a tattoo in mid or late October, and I know I breastfed her for the first three months. I can't remember exactly if I was still feeding at the time or if I had just stopped, but I know it was roughly the same time. I cared for the tattoo just as they said (clean it, put the oily goop on it, let it air dry, etc.) and I had no problems whatsoever.

I would recommend Iron Age in the Delmar loop area (if this isn't the place you had recommended to you). The artists are great there and the materials are all professional grade and sterile. Just because the place is nice doesn't mean the artists are good as well - be sure to check out their work! Have fun!

I checked into this during my pregnancy as well. It's FINE!! If you go somewhere reputable with new needles and ink, there is nothing to worry about. The only risks are the Hep and HIV risks which are non-existent if you go to a sterile tattoo artist...which most are. My OB ok'd it for me. I hope it turns out beautifully!

First of all, LOL @ MCMAMA! SO funny... and yay tattoos! My doc (and my kids pediatrician) said as long as you go somewhere certified (as in, go to an actual tattoo parlor, don't get the guy down the street to do it in his garage), everything should be fine. I'm nursing and plan on going this weekend to get some work done. I feel very comfortable about it after speaking with my doctor and the pediatrician. Have fun!

There's a very small chance of infection with tattooing so I would wait until you wean. Same advice would go for any other elective procedure with a risk of breaking the skin.

I wanted to get a new one while I was pregnant and the only thing my OB warned me about was that if it did get infected, I might not be able to take the meds that would help clear it up. So I would say there is no reason a tattoo would affect your milk or milk supply but an infection could be harder to control if you are still breastfeeding.

I got on babycenter.com and searched "tattoos breastfeeding". Here's the info I got. There were a few more too. All answers were from other moms, not doctors on the babycenter website.

from le leche leagues site: The ink that is used in tattoos in the United States is subject to FDA regulation as cosmetics, but none are approved for injection under the skin. However, the ink molecules are too large to pass into breastmilk. General information about tattooing also applies to breastfeeding women. Local and systemic infections are the most prevalent risks of tattooing. Local infections can occur when the recommended aftercare regimen is not followed.

it doesnt harm your baby, ink does not absorb into breastmilk all you need to worr about is hiv and hepetitis

I would wait until after your daughter is weaned and possibly after you are finished having children. With a tattoo, they use a needle to puncture the skin and insert ink. Unless both the needle and the ink are perfectly sterile, there is a risk of infections both at the injection site and and infection by blood borne pathogens such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV, MRSA and others. Also, some people are allergic to the ink, which can cause both localized reactions and systemic (anaphylactic) reactions.
Waiting can assure you that if something like this did happen, you wouldn't pass it on to your daughter (or future children) or have to stop BFing because of infection or medications. If you choose not to wait, go to a professional studio that can guarantee the sterility of their instruments AND their ink. They MUST use new, clean, sterile ink for each of their customers (some places don't to cut costs...this isn't where you want to price shop!).
(All this to say I'm not anti-tats...I have one myself that I love and am proud of!)

I have read the same info as Jessica G. Here is a link as well http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/mom-activities.html

Since there is a risk of infection or possibly even transmission of diseases, I would personally choose to wait. I would be concerned that I wouldn't know I was sick until after I had already passed something to the baby. I wanted to get another tattoo when mine was born but figured I had all the time in the world for that, you won't be nursing forever. I know it is such a slight risk, and there are risks you take everyday that are much more serious just in the course of regular life, but this was a risk I felt didn't really need to be taken. Like driving is much more dangerous, I'm sure. But you can't really avoid it. But a tattoo isn't a necessity. I am willing to take the risk for myself because it is so small, but not for my child.

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