Piercing While Pregnant or Breastfeeding? Here's Why We Say "Wait"

 

At Essential Ink Body Art, our top priority is—and always will be—your health and safety. We love helping our clients express themselves through body art, but there are certain times when getting a piercing just isn’t the best idea.

If you’re currently pregnant or breastfeeding, we know how tempting it can be to treat yourself to something fun (and you totally deserve it!). But when it comes to new piercings, now is not the time—and we’re here to explain why.

🤰 Why We Don’t Pierce During Pregnancy

Your body is doing some serious work right now, and that changes the way it reacts to injury, stress, and healing. Here’s why getting pierced while pregnant is a no-go:

1. Increased Risk of Infection

Piercings are open wounds while they heal, and your immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy to protect the baby. This makes it harder to fight off infection—and infections are something you definitely want to avoid while expecting.

2. Delayed or Complicated Healing

Hormonal shifts during pregnancy can affect how your skin reacts to trauma. This can lead to:

Plus, if you end up needing antibiotics or other medications due to a piercing issue, those could potentially affect your pregnancy.

3. Physical Discomfort

Swelling, fluid retention, and skin sensitivity are all common during pregnancy. That means even a small piercing can feel extra uncomfortable—or get irritated from pressure, movement, or clothing.

4. Studio Safety Concerns

While we maintain the strictest hygiene and sterilization practices, there’s always a minimal risk when you're in any environment involving blood or needles. We want to keep you and your baby safe by minimizing any avoidable exposure.

🤱 What About Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is different, but many of the same concerns still apply:

1. Your Body is Still Recovering

Postpartum healing and hormonal fluctuations can still affect your skin’s ability to handle a new piercing. This is especially true if you're still adjusting to sleep deprivation, stress, or other physical changes.

2. Jewelry and Baby Safety

If you’re considering piercings on or near your chest (like nipples), jewelry can pose a choking hazard or interfere with breastfeeding. Even non-chest piercings can become snagged or pulled by little hands exploring the world.

3. Risk of Infection

While your immune system is starting to bounce back, you're still more vulnerable than usual. A simple irritation can turn into something more complicated—and if you need medication to treat it, that could affect your milk supply.

📣 Our Policy at Essential Ink

For your safety, we do not perform piercings on clients who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s not about denying you a service—it’s about giving your body the time and space it needs to care for you and your baby.

When the time is right, we’ll be here for you with open arms (and sterile needles 😄). And if you’ve had a piercing done in the past and are unsure how pregnancy or breastfeeding might affect it, we’re happy to do a consultation and talk you through any concerns.

🕰 Trust Us—It’s Worth the Wait

We get it. Being pregnant or breastfeeding means a lot of waiting, sacrificing, and putting others first. But a fresh piercing deserves the best chance to heal without complications—and you deserve to feel confident, safe, and fully supported when you get one.

So take care of yourself now. Heal, rest, and focus on your little one.When you’re ready, we’ll be here with clean tools, gorgeous jewelry, and zero judgment.

— The Essential Ink Body Art Team