Tattoos, Piercings, and Pregnancy

Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby

You may have read that, while pregnant, everything that goes into your system affects the baby you are carrying. Your baby eats what you eat, drinks what you drink, and feels stressed when you feel stressed. For this reason, most women abstain from drinking alcohol, smoking, and other unhealthy activities. They take pre-natal vitamins, exercise, and watch what they eat. Congratulations to these women! The first step to ensure your baby’s health is to take good care of yourself. Although there are reports of pregnant women who get tattooed or pierced without incidence, the specific medical effects to an unborn child are still unknown. Read ahead to learn more.

TATMANDU'S Code of Ethics

We at TATMANDU believe that it is unethical to tattoo or pierce a pregnant woman. As seasoned tattoo and piercing artists, we know that there is a fair amount of stress involved when a person gets a tattoo or piercing. We choose not to subject an unborn child to undue stress. We guarantee that our shop is clean, and that our implements are sterile. But we also know that infection is always possible when a person does not take proper aftercare precautions (such as washing their hands). It is for this potential hazard that we choose not to pierce or tattoo a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding.

Consider what Medical Professionals Say

"I wouldn't recommend getting a tattoo while pregnant. All causes of infection are to be avoided during pregnancy, as your immune system does not work the way it normally does. Even minor infections should be treated promptly during pregnancy. Anything that could even potentially result in an infection in the blood is particularly to be avoided, so that would include getting a tattoo. Fortunately, pregnancy does not last very long, and waiting a few weeks or months is a very small price to pay to protect your child's health."

-Cynthia Flynn, CNM
Courtesy of http://pregnancy.org

Alternatives to Tattoos and Piercings

Fortunately, if you want to celebrate and document the 9 months that you are pregnant, there are many alternatives to getting tattooed or pierced.

• Belly Casts—plaster casts that you can paint, decorate, and keep forever.
• Pictures—pictures can say a thousand words and last a lifetime.
• Scrapbooks—scrapbooking is an inexpensive way to keep your memories in place.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. At TATMANDU, we wish both you and your baby a lifetime of good health.

If You Need Help

These local services are here to assist you:

Walla Walla

Healthy Mothers and Babies
1-800-322-2588

Planned Parenthood
(509) 529-3570

Walla Walla General Hospital
(509) 525-0480

St. Mary Medical Center
(509) 525-3320

Emergency Medical Services
(509) 525-4490

Health and Human Services
(509) 527-3278

Children & Family Services
(509) 527-4900

Milton-Freewater

Child Welfare Services
1-800-331-0503

Self Sufficiency
(541) 938-4925