Epidural's and Tattoo's?

[MFcupcakeicingandeyeliner]

A friend at work told me that if you have a tattoo on your back, by or on your spine, that when your going through labor you won't be able to get an epidural. I have a tattoo on the center of my back, and thought I'm not pregnant now, I do eventually want to have kids.

I love tattoo's and want to keep getting them, Though now I'm unsure if I want to get any on my back.

Is this true, and if so where is the epidural usually inserted at? (For example 7 inches below the first vertibre(sp?) )

Thank you so much for reading, and any information is helpful. =]

[leighanne143]

below is article i took right offline.  this is the answer that each article i looked up gave.  It clearly states that you can have an epidural as long as the tattoo is not fairly new and still healing.


Lower back tattoo: Can it prevent an epidural for labor pain?

I'm pregnant with my first child. I've heard that pregnant women with lower back tattoos should not get epidurals because of the risk of infection. Is this true?
- No name / No state given
   Mayo Clinic obstetrician and gynecologist Roger Harms, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.
Answer
No, it isn't true. Most pregnant women who have lower back tattoos can receive epidurals. The exception would be if the tattoo covers a large area and is still "fresh" — meaning the involved skin is still healing. Actually, very few studies have looked at the risks of epidurals in women with lower back tattoos. But there is no conclusive evidence of any adverse effects, such an increased risk of an infection.

Most anesthesiologists will give an epidural block to a pregnant woman with a lower back tattoo. However, they may try to avoid placing the needle through the tattoo to avoid a small scar that may disfigure the tattoo. If possible, the anesthesiologist will insert the needle through skin that isn't tattooed.

If you have a lower back tattoo and have questions or concerns regarding your ability to get an epidural, consult your doctor.

[asher01]

i never heard of this.. i have had 2 epidurals and nothing was ever said to me about my tattoo. i honestly never even thought about it either. that would suck if i wasn't able to get an epidural bc of the tattoo. i would have died from pain lol.

[bryanarae]

when i had my son i was just asked how old it was. if it is over a year old then you can still get an epidural. the only reason they ask is because if the ink is relatively new ( a year or less) then the ink could travel into you spinal fluid, but only if it is close to the epidural entry point. thats what i was told anyways.

[natemomma27]

ive never heard of such of a thing...i have 7 tattoos and one is on my lower back...the tramp stamp...and ive had 2 epidurals, the doctor never questioned it.

[ashiepooh]

It's the doctors choice who does inserts the epidural.  They can refuse to do so, because some think that the ink affects it, others don't!  But it's becoming more common for them to refuse them for this reason.  And they have to put the epidural in a certain area of your spine or it's totally useless on numbing your lower half of your body.

My tattoo is 8 inches from my butt up, and hip to hip, and they looked at me and told me they wouldn't do it.  But I never wanted one anyways!  

So i'd seriously check with the hospital you plan to deliver at!  Some wont have a problem with it, some do.

[Skylynns_mom]

I have a large tattoo on my back and they never said anything to me about it with either of my children and I had to seperate doctors.

[Kelly87]

I have a tattoo on my lower back and they gave me an epidural    right above me tattoo...

[GRose]

My sister has a tattoo on her lower back that covers her spine and she had an epidural no problem.

[misslollipop]

Hey i have a tatoo of a butterfly on my spine i got a epidural the funny thing is they put it in between the antenae lol but they can i was never told about epidurals and ink.

[martikadragoon]

it's inserted around the L3-L5 areas I don't remember which exactly. But it's the lower back between the hips.  and I dk about a back tattoo but I've got one on my shoulder of TJ's footprints.

[alaysha]

I have a huge tattoo on my lower back that goes from one side to the other and obviously across my spine. I got an epidural. My ex's mom kept saying that I wouldn't be able to get one but they didn't even ask me when I was delivering if I had a tattoo on my back or not.

[leighanne143]

i was even told by my doctor that they still give you the epidural that the tattoo ink has nothing to do with any of it.  so many women have tatoos on  their lower back and jave babies with an epidural.  i htink it was common to not do it a while ago but not now,

[KellyA74]

I can't understand why it would be a problem unless the tatoo was covering your ENTIRE spine......The epidural doesn't have to go in an exact spot as long as they can get it in the epidural space surrounding the spine......It could go either above or below the tatoo.....The only reason that I can think of that they may not want to is b/c it would be more difficult to maneuver the catheter if there was some scar tissue there and they went right thru the tatoo......I'm just guessing b/c other than that I can't figure out why they would have a problem....?????

[ashiepooh]

Also from what i'm told, it's in your L5 L6 discs where they insert.  

I my self have a huge tattoo going across the lower half of my back, but i've never had an epidural.  I get all the doctors telling me that they likely wouldn't give it to me even if I wanted it!

[Kim1989]

when i was in labor the epduial guy came in and said something about it and i said no i dont have any tattoos and i asked why and he said because if you have a tattoo here...he pointed to the "tramp stamp" area he said he wouldnt be able to put it there and would have to put it somewhere else

[ashiepooh]

Actually most people who do that will refuse to give you an epidural.  

It depends on the doctor!!!!!  So you need to speak to the hospital you plan on delivering at!!!  It doesn't matter what it says on the internet it's the anesticiologist (pretty sure I spelt that wrong) who decides if they will or not!!!


There are actually 5 of those who will not give you one if you have a tattoo there in my hospital

[amy0013]

Nope, not true!  I have a tattoo on the small of my back...right on my spine and still had an epidural.  :)

[leighanne143]

no it is not true.  i researched it and it is false.  google it and it will tell you:)