Would you get a tattoo while breastfeeding (XP breastfeeding board)

mmmhilary

So the risks are that you could get something like hepetitis or HIV, and pass that on to your baby.  Obviously that is a risk only if the safety standards of your tattoo artist are not up to par... but even still, would you do it?

OctoberBabyH

I worked at a very clean and reputable tattoo shop for awhile. I know my former co workers and boss very well and we are still all quite close. I know how clean and sanitary the place is. I have gotten tattooed already and I EBF. I also asked my dr., my OB and my LC about it and they all said it was alright. I got tattooed a month after having Violet. I have been tattooed since and I am still EBFing and have appts. coming up, too.

MRSmamacita

I went back and forth with it..I've been getting tattoos at the same shop for 5 years now and know they're clean there, but i still chose to wait. (my supply wasn't enough for my hungry little guy so when it dropped again i decided to give up )

Ananke

Umm, no way.  The safety of my baby is #1, no matter how safe I think the tattoo artist is, and I can wait a year or two if I want a tattoo.  No way am I endangering my baby for an indulgence in vanity.

chelsealush

I would.

mmmhilary

The thing I keep going back to is that there is no way that I would get a tattoo, breastfeeding or not, if I thought there was a chance that I could get Hepatitis or HIV....  I don't engage in risky behavior. And I have gotten tattoos from this person before, and would consider him VERY reputable.  I don't know.  I'm torn.

OctoberBabyH

mmmhilary

 

You can request that all needles be opened in front of you before they are put into the autoclave. If you are denied, walk out. 

One sign from the place I used to work at:

Every needle we use is ALWAYS brand new and autoclave sterilized for the best possible protection. All of our supplies, such as razors, cups, and ink caps, are single use and disposable. Everything we do for sterility is for your protection as well as ours, so we don't take chances. All artists are Red Cross certified in Bloodborne Pathogens and first aid and all our autoclaves are tested each month to confirm sterility.

 

Customers would ask to see this all of the time and we would allow it. My former boss runs 6 shops and his first one opened over 20 years ago. We are all friends, so I trust him/them. I hope this helps! 

mmmhilary

The autoclave is the gun?

I got my first tattoo from this artist seven years ago, and since he has become the most saught after artist in our area.  I feel completely safe, but it's hard to do anything now without weighing the consequences for Dixon, however minute they may be.

OctoberBabyH

mmmhilary:

The autoclave is the gun?

I got my first tattoo from this artist seven years ago, and since he has become the most saught after artist in our area.  I feel completely safe, but it's hard to do anything now without weighing the consequences for Dixon, however minute they may be.

No an autoclave sterilizes medical equipment. (High pressure-saturated steaming, think!) They use them in hospitals, medical offices, labs, etc.

Professional tattoo artists do not call them guns, but machines. And they don't like the words 'tats' or 'tatted' in my experience. (Also when people get their ears stretched, it's just that - stretching, not 'gauging' - that is used for sizing purposes only.)

And I totally agree with you! If I thought it was unsafe, I wouldn't do it. And of course, it depends on who and where you go to get it done. Trust your judgment. 

SnoopyLuv

mmmhilary:

The autoclave is the gun?

I got my first tattoo from this artist seven years ago, and since he has become the most saught after artist in our area.  I feel completely safe, but it's hard to do anything now without weighing the consequences for Dixon, however minute they may be.

The autoclave is the sterilizer. 

mmmhilary

OctoberBabyH:

mmmhilary:

The autoclave is the gun?

I got my first tattoo from this artist seven years ago, and since he has become the most saught after artist in our area.  I feel completely safe, but it's hard to do anything now without weighing the consequences for Dixon, however minute they may be.

No an autoclave sterilizes medical equipment. (High pressure-saturated steaming, think!) They use them in hospitals, medical offices, labs, etc.

Professional tattoo artists do not call them guns, but machines. And they don't like the words 'tats' or 'tatted' in my experience. (Also when people get their ears stretched, it's just that - stretching, not 'gauging' - that is used for sizing purposes only.)

And I totally agree with you! If I thought it was unsafe, I wouldn't do it. And of course, it depends on who and where you go to get it done. Trust your judgment. 

Sooo, the way that it works is:  The brand new needle is opened, put into the autoclave, used on me, and then thrown away?  I remember from the last time that he had single use ink cups, etc., but it's been a while.

mmmhilary

mmmhilary:

OctoberBabyH:

mmmhilary:

The autoclave is the gun?

I got my first tattoo from this artist seven years ago, and since he has become the most saught after artist in our area.  I feel completely safe, but it's hard to do anything now without weighing the consequences for Dixon, however minute they may be.

No an autoclave sterilizes medical equipment. (High pressure-saturated steaming, think!) They use them in hospitals, medical offices, labs, etc.

Professional tattoo artists do not call them guns, but machines. And they don't like the words 'tats' or 'tatted' in my experience. (Also when people get their ears stretched, it's just that - stretching, not 'gauging' - that is used for sizing purposes only.)

And I totally agree with you! If I thought it was unsafe, I wouldn't do it. And of course, it depends on who and where you go to get it done. Trust your judgment. 

Sooo, the way that it works is:  The brand new needle is opened, put into the autoclave, used on me, and then thrown away?  I remember from the last time that he had single use ink cups, etc., but it's been a while.

One more question!  Do only brand new, never used on human supplies go into the autoclave?  Or is this something that sterilizes things that have been used on others?

OctoberBabyH

mmmhilary:

OctoberBabyH:

mmmhilary:

The autoclave is the gun?

I got my first tattoo from this artist seven years ago, and since he has become the most saught after artist in our area.  I feel completely safe, but it's hard to do anything now without weighing the consequences for Dixon, however minute they may be.

No an autoclave sterilizes medical equipment. (High pressure-saturated steaming, think!) They use them in hospitals, medical offices, labs, etc.

Professional tattoo artists do not call them guns, but machines. And they don't like the words 'tats' or 'tatted' in my experience. (Also when people get their ears stretched, it's just that - stretching, not 'gauging' - that is used for sizing purposes only.)

And I totally agree with you! If I thought it was unsafe, I wouldn't do it. And of course, it depends on who and where you go to get it done. Trust your judgment. 

Sooo, the way that it works is:  The brand new needle is opened, put into the autoclave, used on me, and then thrown away?  I remember from the last time that he had single use ink cups, etc., but it's been a while.

That is correct. We had a company called Biohazard Solutions come and pick up the used sharps that we had neatly (and necessarily) contained. 

mmmhilary

Thank you for all of your insight Octoberbaby!  At least my husband, and maybe both of us, will be getting tribut tattoos for Dixon in May.

sherbetlemon

If you're worried about it, just wait. The opportunity will still be there to get the tattoo in a year or 6 months or whenever.

cherie82

I wouldn't...just my opinion.

SparkleTart

I would and I might...I want to get DS's name somewhere.  DH doesn't really like tattoos, but I thought about getting it on my foot.