Getting a tattoo on your arm while pregnant can harm the baby?

Tattooing while pregnant is a controversial topic, though one that is fairly easily answered. The truth is that there are pro's and con's to getting one done while pregnant and they are issues you should not take lightly.

In truth, there is no direct evidence to suggest that getting a tattoo while pregnant is harmful to the baby inside you, though there is not any evidence to prove it is safe either.

The major concerns:

~Infection

~Shock

~Chemical Dyes

With or without being pregnant, you should always make sure that your tattoo is preformed by a licensed artist who also has a Blood Born Pathogen license. You need to make sure that they always use sterile equipment and brand new unopened needles. They should always wear medical gloves and use proper bandaging procedures. If they don't, you are setting yourself up for a bad infection or worse.

The other part of the infection worry, is that while being pregnant you are extra suceptible to infection, which gives you a larger risk for getting an infection not from the tattoo work itself, but from not properly taking care of the tattoo after its done.

Shock is a concern mostly for those whom have either not had a tattoo previously, and do not know how they will react to it, or for those who have low pain thresholds. You also have a higher risk for shock if you are getting a tattoo in a very sensitive area. It is very advisable to avoid tattooing on your back, stomach, chest or breasts while pregnant. There are still risks to getting tatts on your hands, feet, arms or legs, though most consider the risks to be lower then other parts of the body.

This and infection, are the major reasons that most tattoo artists won't give tattoos to pregnant women. You have a higher risk of passing out on them, and possibly going into preterm labor if you can't handle the pain of the tattooing process.

Chemical dyes are a concern, and it's always best to seek tattoo artists who use organic ink in the first place. Though there is no direct evidence to show that the excess ink that might release into your body, could hurt your baby. There is no evidence to show that it won't hurt your baby though, hence the "risk" factor.

Many women have safely completed tattoos during pregnancy, though more often then not, it was before they knew they were pregnant. There are still many women who get tattoos while they know they are pregnant, and there have not yet been any reports of the tattoo's causing problems. The important part, is that like anything else when you are pregnant, it is a risk to you and your babe, and one you should seriously consider before continuing. If you've weighed everything else and decide you want to continue, just make sure your tattoo artist and doctor know about it, and be as safe as possible.