Tattoos during pregnancy - Opinion or neglect?

[Tinsil]

lol, Deena's new chinnie tattoo inspired this idea, while I want more tattoos I am personally waiting until baby is out to get my next. But I am not sure how to even answer my own question..

When I first heard that tattoos during pregnancy isn't a good idea I did some research and what I got back was a few couple main points as to why it's NOT a good idea..

First of all, the 'shock' of the needle can put a woman into early labor, and needless to say this is a problem!!

Secondly it's said that no "reputable" parlor will touch a pregnant woman with a needle anyway.

Thirdly and most important, the risk of contracting a disease and exposing your unborn child.


Here is what I think:

I personally don't mind tattoo needle pain, it doesn't hurt or freak me out or scare me, in fact the only thing it feels to me is annoying. I sit there thinking "Oh, you're done??" not "OMG OMG OMG OMG." So I would not be worried about early labor for myself, I know my body well enough so I'm sure there are plenty of women out there who feel the way I do and would know if this problem awaited them because of a tattoo.

I don't really think much about an individual artist or parlor refusing to ink a woman who is pregnant, but I think it's right up there with refusing business to someone who is drunk, there could be too many negative factors and outcomes, so I don't blame them. For a tattoo parlor, reputation is everything!

And lastly while I understand this it still doesn't phase me much.. I am aware that while pregnant your immune system is little more than non-existant but I don't believe getting a tattoo will cause you to contract something you weren't already going to contract anyway. This doesn't change the fact that you are pregnant and you have your baby's health to worry about however.


I think this is an interesting topic, and I GUESS I lean more towards allowing it to be a choice to be respected other than a cause to scold a woman about poor parenting and selfishness.

What does everyone else think? :winkgrin:

[HedgeMom]

1. Becoming lightheaded or fainting is an autonomic reaction. Something you can't control, even if you aren't afraid or reactive to pain. What about the baby's reaction to the process? What about the adrenaline and endorphin surge? How will that affect the baby?

2. If the professionals think it's a bad idea, why would you disagree? Wouldn't their superior knowledge and experience lead you to follow their advice?

3. WHY during the developement of a new human would you want to insert chemicals into your system? Those chemicals could have God knows what effect on a developing baby.

Pregnancy is a time when you need to put the baby's needs before your own wants. Why bother getting pregnant if you're going to risk the health and well-being of that baby with an elective procedure? Nothing about a tattoo is so life altering that you can't wait until you've delivered and finished breastfeeding.

[Tinsil]

1. I never got lightheaded or fainted... Hmm that is interesting. I didn't even know the baby knows anything is going on.

2. Good point :)

3. I'm sure they have some kind of explanation as to what effects the chemicals have on a growing fetus. I haven't heard anything particularly.

This is what a lot of people don't get, and it comes into play with so many issues during pregnancy. But even still, it's a choice the individual must make for herself right? For every bad experience you can find there's also a positive one. Some people ship their chinchillas because accommodations are better and success stories are on the high rise, yet some people don't because of the obvious risks. Is this not somewhat similar in principal?

:D

[HedgeMom]

1. I never got lightheaded or fainted... Hmm that is interesting. I didn't even know the baby knows anything is going on.

2. Good point :)

3. I'm sure they have some kind of explanation as to what effects the chemicals have on a growing fetus. I haven't heard anything particularly.

This is what a lot of people don't get, and it comes into play with so many issues during pregnancy. But even still, it's a choice the individual must make for herself right? For every bad experience you can find there's also a positive one. Some people ship their chinchillas because accommodations are better and success stories are on the high rise, yet some people don't because of the obvious risks. Is this not somewhat similar in principal?

:D

Babies are extremely aware of everything that happens to their mom, they share everything.

Re 3. They don't KNOW the effect of the inks on a fetus because there is no reason to study it. After all, a tattoo isn't a life saving event. It can be postponed so there isn't any reason to study the inks. I believe eventually that they will because more and more women are getting tattoos before conception and it may eventually have an impact.

As far as this being a woman's choice for herself, I say that that is a very selfish attitude. I would say that the baby is at the most risk, so the baby should have the last say. Since we have not figured out a way for that to happen, there should be no question that the procedure needs to be postponed until there is NO impact on a developing baby.

Again, why bother getting pregnant if you aren't going to put the baby first?

[Tinsil]

I just want to restate that I am only saying these things to promote thought and debate, I'm not choosing to take any selfish actions. lol.. Just so everyone is sure..


And hedgemom if there is no reason to study it then why is it such a problem? They usually try to scrounge up as much evidence refuting something as possible if it's important enough.

And some people don't choose to get pregnant but they deal with it, some better than others of course. I think it is better that a girl who DIDN'T want to get pregnant accept it and be a little selfish about something than be REALLY selfish about it and do something like abort it instead. I'm a member on a forum where a girl was asking about different abortion methods vs adoption and despite everyone encouraging her to adopt it out, she decided upon an abortion for the pure selfish reason that she wouldn't be able to compete on her cheer squad... That takes the cake as far as I'm concerned, a tattoo is so insignificant when you pair it up to something like that.

[hemi_mygirl]

While I love the feeling of tattoos and I'm used to what comes with them, even I can't deny that I get huge rushes of adrenaline during the process. I don't know if that can harm the baby, but I imagine a huge rise in heart rate could cause a similar reaction in an unborn infant. From everything I've heard, an elevated heartbeat in an unborn infant can be cause to worry. I may be wrong, as I've never been pregnant or done extensive research on the issue. Personally, I'd rather hold off and get the tattoo after the baby is born. No sense in risking the child if I don't have to, right?

ETA: I saw your point on abortion, Heather. While this is a sensitive subject, I'm going to bite and say that personally, I believe abortion can be an option. I don't believe it's selfish, and I know if I got pregnant, I'd probably look into it. Right now, I can't support a child and I'm doing everything I can to prevent it, right down to abstaining, but you never know what could happen right? Women get raped - should they be forced to deliver the baby because someone feels abortion is selfish? What if you discover your unborn baby will have several birth defects and mental inadequacies? Is it selfish to abort the child in that circumstance? Why bring them into the world if you know the child will have a life full of hardship, ridicule and pain?

That's just my thoughts on the matter.

[Tinsil]

While I love the feeling of tattoos and I'm used to what comes with them, even I can't deny that I get huge rushes of adrenaline during the process. I don't know if that can harm the baby, but I imagine a huge rise in heart rate could cause a similar reaction in an unborn infant. From everything I've heard, an elevated heartbeat in an unborn infant can be cause to worry. I may be wrong, as I've never been pregnant or done extensive research on the issue. Personally, I'd rather hold off and get the tattoo after the baby is born. No sense in risking the child if I don't have to, right?

I know that babies have pretty fast heart rates to begin with, but that would make sense if it happens. I still can't imagine what adrenaline or rush comes with getting a tattoo, I never personally felt this way. I'm no stranger to feeling dizzy, I have hypoglycemia and I faint, oh boy, but I felt nothing resembling lightheadedness during my tattoo process.

But I think that's the best point one can come up with - tattoo parlors aren't going anywhere, so why not just wait? That's exactly right.


But there are those who don't...

[macy_gray]

I am sure it would cause a lot of stress from the pain and whatever else....If the mother is stressed this obviously isn't good for the baby...You don't want any negativity.

[Tinsil]

I am sure it would cause a lot of stress from the pain and whatever else....If the mother is stressed this obviously isn't good for the baby...You don't want any negativity.

Yep this is the number one reason I listed, but not everybody is affected negatively by getting a tattoo, so wouldn't that negate this as being a valid reason to NOT have one done?

[Christie]

Pregnancy last for 40 weeks. Unless it is known 100% that what you are doing to your body while pregnant will not hurt the developing baby, why risk it? It's just 40 weeks.