Moms Are Getting Breastfeeding Tattoos To Celebrate Nursing Their Babies - Is This Safe?

Breastfeeding tattoos are becoming popular among moms. Women are getting permanently inked with images of breastfeeding in celebration of nursing their babies. Social media has, in fact, been teeming with photos of #breastfeedingtattoo.

As with any tattoos, the images show the personal preferences of the mothers who are inked on their chosen body parts such as the arms or legs. The colorful artwork, however, prominently go with a common theme featuring a baby feeding on her mother's breast.

"I had provided hundreds of liters of milk for my own three children and had helped feed three others, so it was something that I felt passionate about and wanted to remember forever," 33-year-old mom Diedre said regarding her decision to get inked, via Essential Baby. She endured so much challenges breastfeeding her three kids, including developing engorged nipples. Below are some more examples of actual breastfeeding tattoos.

Check out this fun tattoo that I did today!! #breastfeedingtattoo #breastfeeding #tattoo #tattoos #watercolortattoo #thetattooedlady #thetattooedladytn @thetattooedladytn

A post shared by Melanie Huddleston (@melaniemaybell) on Feb 25, 2017 at 7:37pm PST

My best friend tattooed my mothers tattoo for me #tattoo #mother #babies #love #breastfeeding #breastfeedingtattoo A post shared by Allie Hutkowski (@allieellamarie) on Jan 15, 2017 at 1:34pm PST

#mermaidtattoo made by @paradistattoo drawing made by @alisha_hefner_art_ based off artwork a client brought it. #breastfeedingtattoo #brestfeeding #brestfeedingtattoos #mom #momtattoo #mermaids #babytattoo #babymermaid #mothertattoo #familytattoo #galaxytattoo #galaxy #mermaid #mermaidlove #markofthemachine #bradenton #florida #bradentontattooshops #bradentontattooshop #bradentontattoos

A post shared by MarkOfTheMachine_Tattoo (@markofthemachine_tattoo) on Oct 13, 2016 at 2:01pm PDT

Psychologist Sharon Draper said breastfeeding tattoos send a positive message to mothers and the general community about nursing babies. It also earned support as well as broke the stigma that still surrounds breastfeeding.

Concerns have been raised, however, on whether breastfeeding tattoos are safe. Getting inked is not a new thing and hundreds of reputable tattoo shops have been operating for years, which means these shops have passed standards.

Ideally, mothers are advised to wait at least a year or when the baby turns one before getting a breastfeeding tattoo, according to La Leche League. Moms are also advised to enlist a professional tattooist who follows proper sterilization procedures and use clean and safe inks, needles and gloves to avoid contamination.

Moms should also be wary of risks of infection, which is common with getting a tattoo. They will have to manage by drinking pain relievers like Tylenol. They will also have to carefully wash her tattoo wounds with soap and water for a few days. Moms should consider these minor inconveniences vis-à-vis caring for a young child.