Will Getting a Tattoo During Pregnancy Cause a Miscarriage?

I will be the first person to admit that I don’t like tattoos. It doesn’t bother me if you have tattoos, but I would never get one. However, a recent poster asked other expecting moms if getting a tattoo during pregnancy was okay. Instead of receiving actual information from reputable sources, this pregnant lady was attacked. Honestly? No one bothered to Google it. No one bothered to check the APA, WebMD, the Mayo Clinic, or suggest asking a doctor. Instead, the poster was met with this:

 

Don’t get a tattoo because it “can cause miscarriage”? Oh, I get it. The poster is covered in tattoos. Naturally, this makes the poster a medical doctor certified in speaking the truth about tattoos & pregnancy. Silly me. This lady is an expert! (Seriously? What happens if you get a cut and it becomes infected during pregnancy? Your baby dies? Uh, let’s get real.)

A three-second Google search brought me to the American Pregnancy Association‘s website, which (SPOILER ALERT) contained wildly different information than was provided by novices on BabyCenter’s birth boards. In fact, the APA provides guidelines for getting a tattoo while pregnant, things to consider, and, although it suggests waiting, writes that the decision is ultimately “up to you”.

Although BabyCenter’s official stance is to wait until after childbirth (in alignment with The Bump’s expert) the risks outlined do not suggest that miscarriage is a possibility. Period.

The only statement remotely close to the poster’s declaration is this: “Unusually stressful events during pregnancy may result in premature labour. We don’t know whether having a tattoo would cause this level of stress, but it’s best to play it safe.” (Source: BabyCentre UK)

The operative word here is “may”. It may result in premature labor.

I absolutely agree with the experts that getting a tattoo while pregnant is not worth the risk. It’s not worth it at all. But to lie to someone asking for help, and state that something is known to cause a miscarriage, is irresponsible.