Body art and pregnancy

Abstract

Body art has gained tremendously in popularity over the past 20 years, and a substantial number of pregnant women may have tattoos or piercings. In most cases, pregnancy will be uneventful. However, on rare occasions, body art may become an issue or cause complications. Navel and abdominal surface piercing and microdermal implants may cause unsightly stretch marks from gravid distension. Nipple piercing could impair breastfeeding. In emergency situations, oral piercing may interfere with airway management and nasal jewelry can be inhaled or swallowed during orotracheal intubation. Tattoos may become distorted if placed on a distended area or they may cover surgical incision lines. The risk of introducing tattoo pigments during epidural analgesia, with the potential for tumor growth, is currently under debate, although the arguments are highly speculative and without solid basis.