Tattoo and epidural?! Help!!

Question

I have a tattoo on my lower back that goes from my pants line up about 6 inches and from hip to hip. It is realistic Japanese cherry blossoms and some script, but it's not one huge chunk of ink, there are bare spaces in the design...

I had a L&D nurse ask me if I had a tattoo on my back when she saw them on my legs... She said I may not be a candidate for an epidural!? 
 My husband and I attended a birthing class over the weekend where I asked the instructor (also a L&D nurse with over a decade of experience) and she said the same thing!!

The advice she gave me was as soon as I go into labor to have the nurses call the anesthesiologist to check if I can have one!!

I am a total control freak, more so being pregnant. And I can't imagine waiting until the day OF to know if I can have an epidural. I'm kind of freaking out.

For the record, I'm a FTM and who knows if I'll even NEED the epidural. But I don't want my options to be limited over a tattoo that's almost 7 years old!!!

Any experience with this mommas???

Answer

This is not true. The theoretical risk is the introduction of tattoo dye into the spinal canal. To date, there are no known reports of complications related to placement of an epidural through a tattoo. It is not usually an issue because most of the time, an epidural can be placed without puncturing the tattoo at all. If this is not possible, a small needle can be used to make a hole prior to inserting the epidural needle to decrease the risk of picking up some ink. In spite of this, some anesthesiologists may still refuse to do an epidural through a tattoo.

Answer

Thanks Ladies. I'm feeling more confident.

My mother talked to a friend who's an anesthesiologist, he said it depends on the dr doing my epidural. But they may nick my skin over the tattoo so they don't go directly through it.

Keeping my fingers crossed! Again, who knows if I'll need it. But I can't believe a tattoo would eliminate the option!

Answer

I have a huge tattoo on my back and had and epidural with my last pregnancy and plan on having one with this pregnancy and the topic never came up, the only thing I was told is to take out my clitoris ring which I did and just never put it back in but nothing about tattoos.

Answer

My doctor told me that I should be concerned only if my tattoo was new and/or still healing. She took a look at mine and said I wouldn't have any issues receiving an epidural.

Answer

Huh?!? I had an epidural and no one said a thing! The doctor made a joke about it coming out crooked once the needle comes out but nothing more! I never heard of this.

Tattoo and epidural?! Help!!

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