INKEDblog takes you beneath the skin of today's tattoo culture. Our mission is to celebrate tattooing as a modern art form which incorporates art, fashion, style, and pop culture. While paying homage and respect to the past, we look to present a contemporary take on the present and future of skin art. getinked@inkedblog.com

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Friday  Jun 09, 2006

Dear INKEDblog: How much stretching...?

Hey INKEDblog,

I want to get a tattoo on my lower back but I want to put it where there would be minimal stretching possibilities. Also, I've heard that if you get it in the small of your back you can't get an epidural when you're having a baby...and that would be waaaaay too much pain. Anyways, do you guys have any suggestions of where the best spot would be?

Thanks!

Alex

Dear Alex,

If you are currently pregnant, you should put off getting a tattoo until after you stop breastfeeding. Though many say this is erring on the side of caution, most artists will not knowingly tattoo pregnant women because of the risk of infection and the liability issue of women fainting during the procedure. (Fainting onto a hard surface could put women at risk for early labor or miscarriage.)

As for the stretching, it is very hard to predict where a person’s body will stretch during pregnancy. The belly is where you often see stretch marks, though some women experience them on their back, legs, and even arms. Some women walk away completely unscathed. It just depends on your body type.

The tattoos will stretch along with your skin and may not look the same after pregnancy. The most obvious place to avoid would be the belly, but if you want a tattoo that won’t stretch during pregnancy, the lower legs or neck might be the best idea.

As for the epidural, there is no convincing research that tattoos on the lower back pose any greater risk for the laboring woman than the epidural alone. The truth is, Epidurals can be dangerous. The worry with a tattoo is that the ink will go through the epidural needle into your spine. This is something to discus with your doctor or anesthesiologist.

The epidural is placed in your lower back, so the back of your neck and your upper back would be completely away from the epidural area.

Best Wishes!

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