During pregnancy, a woman should not get a tattoo, as there are several risk factors that can affect the baby’s development as well as the health of the pregnant woman, and it is not recommended to get a tattoo during pregnancy.
This is because getting a tattoo at any stage of pregnancy can increase the risk of contracting an infection, such as hepatitis B or C, or HIV, especially when the needle is poorly sterilized.
Furthermore, the ink used for tattooing often contains heavy metals, such as mercury, lead or arsenic, or pigments, which can interfere with the baby’s development. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women do not get a tattoo during pregnancy.
Risks of getting a tattoo during pregnancy
The main risks of getting a tattoo during pregnancy are:
- Delays in the baby’s development: During a tattoo, it is common for blood pressure to decrease and hormonal changes to occur, even if the woman is used to pain. In these cases, the sudden change in blood pressure can reduce the amount of blood that goes to the baby, which can delay its development;
- Transmission of infections to the baby: Although it is an uncommon situation, it is possible to become infected with a serious disease, such as Hepatitis B or HIV, due to the use of poorly sterilized needles. If the mother develops one of these infectious diseases, she can easily transmit it to the baby during pregnancy or childbirth;
- Fetal malformations: the presence of fresh paint in the body can cause the release of chemicals into the bloodstream, and heavy metals, such as mercury, lead or arsenic, which can lead to changes in the formation of the fetus, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, in which the baby’s main organs.
Furthermore, the skin undergoes some changes due to hormones and weight gain, and this can interfere with the tattoo design when the woman returns to her usual weight.
What to do when you get a tattoo without knowing you are pregnant
In cases where a woman had a tattoo, but did not know she was pregnant, it is advisable to inform the obstetrician to carry out the necessary tests for diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, in order to assess whether she is infected and whether there is a risk of transmitting the disease to the baby.
Therefore, if this risk exists, health professionals can adopt some precautions during birth and start treatment in the first hours of the baby’s life, to reduce the risk of infection or development of these diseases.
