A tattoo can be a great way to express your personality, to memorialize someone you love or to commemorate an important event in your life. Tattooing can be a risky endeavor ,, as it is prone to infection and allergic reactions if done incorrectly or not by certified tattoo artists. The used for tattooing has not been FDA approved as of yet.

You may wonder if a new tattoo would be appropriate if you are a parent who is breast-feeding or chest-feeding. If you’re a breast- or chest-feeding parent, you may be wondering whether tattooing can be done right away, and under what conditions. Waiting until your child is older would be the best option. Is it okay to remove a tattoo while nursing your baby?

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We’ll answer your questions on breastfeeding and tattoos with expert input from a lactation specialist and a breastfeeding doctor.

Can you get a tattoo while breast-feeding or chest-feeding?

There is little research on getting a breast-feeding tattoo, so experts are often reluctant to recommend the practice. LactMed, the lactation database of the National Library of Medicine states that there are no specific data on the safety of getting tattoos while breastfeeding or chest-feeding. LactMed states that most experts caution against getting a tattoo at this time.

Jessica Madden, MD IBCLC is a pediatrician and lactation consultant. She is also the medical director for Aeroflow Breastpumps. She says that she recommends against getting tattoos when breastfeeding because of safety risks.

Kelly Kendall, RN IBCLC, lactation consultant and nurse at The Balanced Boob says she is most concerned with the risk of infection and less worried about ink getting into Breast Milk. Kendall said that “risks of infection remain from a bloodborne pathogen” during the tattooing process. According to LactMed, a person who gets a tattoo is ineligible to donate blood for up a year due the risk of blood-borne infections.

What are the risks?

Infection is the main concern when getting a tattoo and breastfeeding. If you are infected by a pathogen such as a virus or bacteria, it is possible to pass the infection on to your baby through your breast milk or if you have an open wound. She says that HIV and Hepatitis B are two of the most dangerous infections. While the risk of infection can vary, it is generally low.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, transmission of HIV via breastfeeding is only 1% even if the infection is managed well with antiretroviral treatment (ART). Parents with hepatitis B who are breastfeeding can continue to do so, but if their nipples bleed or crack, they run a higher risk of passing the infection on to their infant.

Kendall also warns that, if a bacterial infection is acquired after a tattoo has been done, it may be necessary to start anti-biotics. She advises that, “even though most antibiotics can be used safely when nursing, it’s always best to consult your doctor or pharmacist.”

Kendall says that you should do all you can to avoid infection if you get a new tattoo while you are breastfeeding. She says that keeping a tattoo clean and covered is important to prevent infection. This can be difficult when you are caring for a baby.

Does tattoo ink affect breast milk?

Dr. Madden says that there is no research on the question of whether tattoo ink can enter breast milk. She points out a new study from 2022 that found tattoo ink contained extremely small particles, less than 100 nanometers. These particles are small enough to penetrate body cell membranes and could potentially affect breast milk. Dr. Madden says.

Dr. Madden is concerned that ink particles could potentially get into breast milk.

How long should you wait to nurse after getting a tattoo?

You may be wondering how long you should wait to breastfeed your baby after getting a new tattoo. It’s possible you want to know whether or not it is better to wait until your child is older before getting a tattoo. According to Dr. Madden neither scenario should be considered, as there is not enough information on the safety of getting a tattoo when breastfeeding to support this practice. Dr. Madden advises against getting a breast-feeding tattoo, no matter how old the infant or toddler is.

Is it safe to remove tattoos while breastfeeding?

Parents might also wonder if it is safe to remove a tattoo while nursing. Kendall explains that laser technology is used to remove tattoos, and this can pose some risks. She explains that laser tattoo removal removes the tattoo by breaking down ink particles, which are then absorbed through the lymphatic system and removed from the body. She says that because there aren’t enough studies to determine if these tiny particles can pass through breastmilk, you should wait until your child is weaned before getting a tattoo removed.

Bottom Line

Many people find getting a tattoo to be an important and meaningful experience. No wonder almost 30% of the population gets tattoos. Although it may be disappointing to hear that most experts recommend against getting a tattoo when you are a breastfeeding parent due to the lack of information and potential risks associated with tattoos during this time.

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If you have any further questions, please contact an a data-component=”link” data-ordinal=”1″ data source=”inlineLink” and/or a midwife or OB-GYN. If you have further questions, please contact an midwife or OB-GYN . You can wait until your child is no longer nursing before getting a tattoo.