If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and thinking about getting a tattoo, you’re not alone in wondering whether the timing is right. You might be wondering whether the risks are real, or whether studios like Art n Soul in Prospect are simply being overcautious. This article breaks it all down honestly, covering pregnancy and breastfeeding, tattoos, common medications, and health conditions, so you can walk into your consultation prepared and informed.
This isn’t medical advice. It’s a guide to help you ask the right questions of your GP and your tattoo artist before you book.
Why Health and Medical Status Matter for Tattooing
A tattoo procedure isn’t like applying a sticker. The process involves injecting ink into the dermal layer of your skin using a needle that punctures the surface hundreds of times per minute. That makes it a wound, and your body responds accordingly.
Your immune system kicks in. Your skin has to heal. And if anything disrupts that process, whether a medication, a condition, or a life stage like pregnancy, the risks can shift significantly.
According to McCrindle Research, one in four Australians now has a tattoo, a record high, with women actually outnumbering men at 31% versus 19%. That means a growing number of Australians getting tattooed are women of childbearing age, many of whom are navigating exactly these questions.
Reputable studios in Prospect, Adelaide and across cities like Melbourne ask about your health at consultation. Not to judge you or turn you away without reason, but because knowing your situation is part of doing the job properly.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding and Tattoos: The Honest Position on Getting a Tattoo While Pregnant
Let’s be clear about getting a tattoo during pregnancy: most reputable studios will not do it, and that includes Art n Soul.
The general recommendation from Australian health authorities, including Pregnancy Birth and Baby, is that you should not get a tattoo while pregnant or breastfeeding, though there is little research available and nothing reporting a direct bad outcome to a baby after their mother got a tattoo.
So why the caution? A few reasons:
- Infection risk. The tattooing process involves needles breaking through the skin to deposit ink, which can allow bacteria or viruses into your body. Pregnant women have compromised immune systems, making them more prone to infections that could affect both mother and child.
- Ink exposure. Tattoo ink mainly has large particles, but there might be some very small particles in the ink, and it is not yet known how they can affect the development of the baby.
- Skin changes. Pregnancy changes your skin dramatically, including stretching, sensitivity shifts, and pigmentation changes. These can affect how a new tattoo heals and how it looks long-term.
- Stress response. Your body is already working hard. Adding a wound healing process on top of everything else is not ideal timing.
- Epidurals. If you’ve had a tattoo in the past six months in the lower back area, an anaesthetist may deny you an epidural, because in the first six months after getting a tattoo, the ink isn’t completely fixed under the skin and could displace during the epidural process.
The position of studios like Art n Soul, and the wider industry in Prospect, Adelaide and Melbourne, is not that tattooing during pregnancy is proven to be dangerous. It’s that the risks of getting a tattoo while pregnant can be adequately assessed, and no reputable studio will knowingly tattoo a pregnant client.
This is about protecting you, not gatekeeping.
Our recommendation? Wait until after delivery, and after you’ve finished breastfeeding, before you book.
Breastfeeding and Tattoos: What You Need to Know About Getting a Tattoo While Breastfeeding
This is where things get a little more nuanced. Breastfeeding and tattoos don’t have a definitive “never” ruling in the same way pregnancy does, but the guidance still leans toward waiting.
Most experts recommend waiting until after you’ve finished breastfeeding before getting a new tattoo. That said, no negative effects on babies have been reported when a breastfeeding mother gets a tattoo.
Here’s what the evidence actually says about tattoos and breastfeeding:
La Leche League International notes that while the act of having a tattoo placed will not affect the breastfeeding relationship itself, it is unknown whether the inks used may pass into breastmilk, especially during laser removal.
Some studios will tattoo breastfeeding clients on a case-by-case basis with informed consent. Art n Soul’s approach is always to have that honest conversation first, rather than just take a booking.
Breastfeeding tips for timing: It is suggested that mothers wait at least until 9 to 12 months after birth, when the child is no longer dependent solely on breastmilk, before getting a tattoo.
Whatever you decide, don’t rely solely on online forums. Talk to your GP and speak directly with the studio. That’s the right approach.
Getting a Tattoo Removed While Breastfeeding
If you’re currently breastfeeding and thinking about getting a tattoo removed rather than getting a new one, the same caution applies.
Tattoo removal is accomplished with the use of lasers. The laser energy causes the tattoo pigment to shatter and fragment into smaller particles, which are picked up by the body’s immune system and filtered out via the liver. The removal process may cause blistering and scarring.
The concern is that these smaller particles, once broken down, are far less predictable than intact ink molecules. No studies have examined whether those particles can enter your milk supply and be passed to the baby. It is typically recommended to wait at least 3 months after the end of pregnancy or breastfeeding before undergoing laser tattoo removal treatments.
The safety of tattoo removal while breastfeeding is simply too under-researched to proceed with confidence. If you’re considering getting a tattoo removed, wait until your baby is weaned.
Blood Thinners, Autoimmune Conditions and Skin Disorders
Your health situation doesn’t have to be pregnancy-related for it to matter. Several common conditions and medications can affect both the tattooing process and how you heal afterwards.
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Blood Thinners
A regimen of blood thinners may affect the tattooing process, causing excess bleeding. This increased bleeding can slow the process of getting enough ink into the skin. The aftercare healing may also take longer.
If you’re on warfarin, aspirin therapy, or any other anticoagulant, always disclose this at consultation. It doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get tattooed, but your artist needs to know what they’re working with.
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Autoimmune Conditions
Conditions like lupus, psoriasis, and eczema require some extra thought:
- Active flare-ups in or near the area you want tattooed are a contraindication. Getting tattooed over inflamed or compromised skin poses a risk of infection and poor healing.
- Well-managed autoimmune conditions, where the skin in the intended area is healthy and stable, can often be worked around.
- Tattooing must meet all known safety and hygiene standards and be performed in licensed tattoo shops to avoid transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and other infections.
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Diabetes
Diabetes affects wound healing. Well-managed diabetes with stable blood sugar levels is generally workable. Uncontrolled diabetes is a different matter entirely, as the body’s ability to fight infection and heal skin is significantly compromised.
Always get GP clearance for complex conditions before booking.
Medications That Can Affect the Tattooing Process
This is one of the most overlooked areas when clients book tattoos. The risks of getting a tattoo don’t only come from the needle. They can also come from what’s already in your system.
Here’s a quick overview:
| Medication | How It Affects Tattooing |
| Isotretinoin (Accutane / Roaccutane) | Skin becomes too fragile and thin. Most studios will not tattoo clients currently on or recently off this medication. |
| Immunosuppressants | Significantly slow healing and increased infection risk. |
| Steroids | Can affect skin elasticity and how the skin takes ink. |
| Blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin) | Increased bleeding during the session and slower healing. |
| Chemotherapy drugs | The immune system is compromised; the risk of infection is heightened. |
This list is not exhaustive. Articles from the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health explain how to minimise risks of infection, including finding an experienced professional tattoo artist and checking that the studio is clean with sterilised equipment, single-use inks, and needles from sealed packaging.
If you’re on any regular medication, disclose everything at your consultation. A good tattoo artist won’t judge you for it. They need the full picture to look after you properly.
Breastfeeding Tips: What to Do If You’re Unsure About Your Situation
Whether you’re currently breastfeeding, managing a health condition, or taking regular medication, here’s how to approach the conversation before you decide to get a tattoo:
- Talk to your doctor first. Ask specifically whether tattooing is safe, given your current condition or medications. Your GP knows your medical history. Use that.
- Disclose everything at your studio consultation. A reputable studio in Prospect, and in cities like Melbourne and beyond, won’t judge you. They’ll advise you properly, even if that advice is “let’s wait.”
- Trust the “let’s wait” answer. If the studio suggests holding off, that’s not a rejection. That’s the right studio to come back to when the time is right.
- Don’t rely on forums. The Australian Breastfeeding Association specifically recommends not relying on online forums for this kind of guidance and encourages speaking directly with your GP and the studio.
- Consider timing carefully. It’s generally recommended to wait until your baby is at least six months old before getting a tattoo, since by this time your breastfeeding routine and milk supply would be well-established, reducing any potential disruptions caused by the healing process.
The aftercare side of things also matters more when you’re a new parent. Keeping the tattoo clean with mild soap and water, avoiding picking at the healing skin, and keeping it out of the sun are all standard, but harder to manage when you’re also caring for a newborn around the clock.
Why Art n Soul in Prospect Does Things This Way
Studios across Prospect and Melbourne that take this stuff seriously aren’t trying to turn away business. They’re trying to make sure the work they do heals well and doesn’t cause harm.
At Art n Soul, the approach is always client-first. That means honest conversations at consultation, not just taking a booking and hoping for the best. If your situation means waiting, the team will tell you that plainly and help you plan for when the time is right.
You can explore our tattoo services here or get in touch directly with any questions before you book. No judgment, just honest guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I get a tattoo while breastfeeding in Australia?
Most Australian health bodies recommend waiting until after you’ve finished breastfeeding. While no direct harm to babies has been reported, the safety of getting a tattoo while breastfeeding is not well-researched, so waiting is the safer choice.
2. Is it safe to get a tattoo while pregnant?
No. The general position across the industry in Australia is that it’s not safe to get a tattoo during pregnancy due to infection risk, potential ink exposure, and the body’s reduced ability to manage additional stress. Most licensed studios will not tattoo pregnant clients.
3. Will a tattoo affect my breast milk?
Existing tattoos are very unlikely to affect your breast milk. The concern applies mainly to getting a new tattoo while breastfeeding, where there’s a small theoretical risk of ink particles or infection affecting the breastfeeding process.
4. Can I get a tattoo removed while breastfeeding?
It’s best to wait. Tattoo removal breaks ink particles down into smaller pieces, and the effects of those particles on breast milk are unknown. Most practitioners recommend waiting until after you’ve finished breastfeeding.
5. What medications stop you from getting a tattoo?
Blood thinners, isotretinoin (Accutane/Roaccutane), immunosuppressants, and steroids can all affect the tattooing process or healing. Always disclose all medications to your studio at consultation and get GP clearance before proceeding.