epidurals and lower back tattoos..

Has anyone been given an epidural through their tattoo?

I have a very large lower back tattoo that extends to the center of my back.  Im just wondering if an epidural is even an option.

Well, I don't have a lower back tattoo, but I really don't see why it would hinder the anesthiesiologist from performing an epidural.  He just needs to place the needle in the proper position.  The tattoo should have nothing to do with that.  (Of course that is just my totally uneducated opinion! lol)  I would simply ask the doctor who would be performing the procedure if it would cause any complications.  Good luck and congratulations!

the concern is some of the cells that have the ink in them can pass thru with the needle into the spinal fluid.   There are no guidelines about safety for this protocol.  I do know of 1 woman who was refused an epidural due to a back tat.

I have had numerous friends receive epidurals through tattoos.  You may want to talk to your doctor.

Well unless you are going to have to have a C section why not do it the natural way??  I had 2 kids no epidurals and I was in labor with the first one for over 24 hours - sure it hurt but you know what it really wasn't that bad.  With the 2nd they gave me a mild pain killer just to take the edge off. 

I used to be a labor and delivery nurse and I saw tons of epidurals.  After L&D, I went on to work surgery, where we also do a lot of epidurals.  The tatoo would have no effect on your epidural.  Just like the IVs we put in (which I have done through tatoos) the epidural is done mainly by feel, not sight.  The worry about ink getting into the epidural space is new to me.  I would be more worried about bacteria from the skin, but that is why such precaution is taken to sterilize the skin before the procedure.  Hope my info was helpful to you. 

From what I heard here in Toronto that if you have a lower back tattoo you cannot be administered an epidural.  Of course, that is just what I heard.

That's a nasty urban legend.  It's one of those "morality types", i.e. "If you have a 'tramp stamp', when you do become pregnant, you will have to suffer the pain of childbirth."

There's no more to this one than there is to stories of SRA or the killer calling from inside the house.

it is not a myth.  I personally am aquainted with an anaethetist who has refused to do a few epidurals due to size of back tat.  There r no guidelines as to potential risks of ink passing into spinal fluid.  the needle is of such a large diameter that it can carry some skin cells with it.  We have know idea how if any of the ink is passed thru will interact with the spinal fluid.  The larger the back tat and more ink space is used in the ideal epidural area the more likely an epidural will not be administered.  Dr's will try their best to work around a tattoo but sometimes it isnt possible.

Best option is keep them small and lower down so not to cover the best area of the lower lumbar area

In med school they taught us that you can give epidurals through back tats, no problem. "Ink poisoning" wasn't even mentioned - the only possible problem was if the tattoo was VERY badly done, there might be thick scarring under the skin that could interfere with the proper technique.

The Mayo Clinic agrees. And there was a small study done that showed that any added risk was infinitesimal, and if doctors are refusing it, it's based on their own biases, not science.

Snopes is always a good site to check these things out.

Say no to epidurals!

I had my daughter (8lbs 3 oz, 21 in) no drugs, in my home with a midwife and doula and it was WONDERFUL! She was alert and active immediately. I breastfed her about 10 minutes after birth and I was up and walking around about 45 minutes later. My recovery and postpartum was a breeze and I feel that it was due to not having to recover from the drugs. 

 I'm assuiming that you wouldn't take serious narcotics while pregnant, why is it okay in labor? 

 Just my humble opinion and EVERY BIRTH IS A MIRACLE. I am not saying any way is right or wrong.

 Read more >>   Options >>  

i'm not saying i WANT an epidural, i'm just asking this question just in case something happens in an emergency situation

Considering I nearly died during my own birth, I think I'd like to have my kids somewhere medical equipment and experts are on hand.

The medication from an epidural does not go into the bloodstream, therefore it has no effect on the infant because it never reaches the infant.  An epidural is the administration of medication into the epidural space in the back, which is a closed off system to your bloodstream.  The patient is monitored very closely to ensure that the medication doesn't get into the blood stream.  You can breastfeed immediately after deliver with an epidural as the babies are perfectly alert. We used to put the babies to breast within the first ten minutes.

ekp is right. An epidural for childbirth does not usually include a narcotic. The scientific consensus, as much as these things can be consenses, is that it neither improves nor detracts from birth outcomes.

I have a tattoo, and my epidural went right through the middle. I didn't have any complications, and the only thing the anesthesiologist told me was that it might leave a little scar that would affect the way my tattoo looked. Fortunately, there was no scarring. The anesthesiologist didn't even think twice about giving me the epidural due to the tattoo.