Miscarriage Tattoo Ideas
After our baby dies, we are left searching for any way to honor them and feel them close to us. Many parents decide to do this through a tattoo; something they will always have with them. A way to carry their babies with them.
What you decide to represent your baby or your grief is an extremely personal choice, one no one else decides for you. But here are some tattoo ideas from other parents who have lost babies that might bring clarity to your heart. There isn’t a wrong answer to this. Take your time and think about what feels like honoring your baby
Nursery decor as inspiration
“I chose lighthouses for our baby nursery theme before we knew that Austin didn’t have kidneys. I didn’t buy many things throughout my pregnancy because we knew his prognosis, but I continued to see lighthouses randomly throughout our short time with him. The sunset represents his short but incredibly beautiful life, the sinking ship represents my sinking heart and the life we would never know. The rough sea represents our grief. The lighthouse is emerald, his birthstone.”
Show the developmental stage
“I went with the growth of a seedling. Four stages for the four babies.
And the growth kind of represents how far [along] I got with each of them…”
Include all your children
“I wanted something that included all my kiddos. The three on the branch are my three kiddos here on earth- the one flying away is my little girl in heaven”
Their name mixed with meaningful symbols
“Those are Chevelle’s actual footprints, Lillie’s represent death & I have butterflies all over on the other side because she is my little butterfly”
An animal that represents them
“Her name is Briella and I miscarried with her at 13 weeks after hearing her heartbeat at 8 weeks. I wanted something besides traditional miscarriage tattoos and… something that wouldn’t immediately scream that I lost my baby yet would allow me to share about her if I felt up to it when someone asked about it. I searched through so many and landed on the bee because I think of her as Bri, and the bumblebee just kinda fits.
A powerful quote
“My husband found the idea for his on Pinterest and really liked what it said. He wants to add in wings around it at some point as well.”
Baby’s Footprints
“These first two are for my baby Josephine who came into this world at 19 weeks. I have her tiny footprints on my ankle so that she can walk with me through life.
Their initial
The “J” on my wrist is in the font that is on her urn. I chose my wrist as I can see it daily and be reminded of her when I meet new people.”
Birth-month flowers from their due date
“This next one symbolizes what I’ve gone through since having Josephine. I had a six-week loss and chose a rose as that baby would have been due in June. There are three leaves for the three chemical pregnancies I had.”
Something from a favorite song
“On June 5, 2017, I ended up losing my baby who I had tried so hard to conceive at 7 weeks gestation. While laying in the ER beside my emotionally withholding, abusive partner, unable to do anything but cry, I was listening to @joezambon’s album “Love Is” to drown out the sounds of a crying baby. While I was listening to the song, “Sweet Aroma”, I heard the lyrics “more than sweet cherry blossoms” and I envisioned a small boy standing beside a figure in heaven looking towards me on Earth. I decided to name him Andrew after Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean martyr. I still miss him every day and wish he was here, but I take comfort in knowing that I have my own little saint in heaven praying for me and I will have the chance to see his sweet face in heaven someday.
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, pray for us! ”
A symbol for their name
This mother chose an olive branch on the shoulder on which she first held her baby. It represents her daughter, sweet Olive Esprit.
Simply their name
Maisie’s mama kept her memory close by getting her name on her wrist.
A bouquet
This mama had a custom bouquet designed to represent all the big dates in her daughter’s short life.
“Chrysanthemum for November because we lost her November 30th, 2021. Rose for June because she was due June 2nd, 2022. Forget-me-nots because we just connected with them”
Small reminders
“Butterflies are what we connect with the most as a symbol of her. Beam Me Up is one of the most meaningful songs for me. I got the cross because I’ve always wanted it there and felt like I need Jesus more than usual these days.”
Their baby blanket
This one is mine. When we conceived Miles {you can read his story here}, I quickly decided I wanted to use Eucalyptus as the inspiration for the nursery. The first thing I bought was a baby blanket with Eucalyptus and other greenery on it. When he died, we used Eucalyptus to adorn his casket and I often lay it on his grave. It’s become the thing that most reminds me of him. My tattoo artist copied from the blanket when he did my tattoo. It draws attention without being obvious that it is a memorial tattoo and when people ask about it, I have the chance to share Miles’s story.
No matter what you choose, make sure it’s something special to you that will one day make you smile as you think of your baby.
Thank you to the mamas who allowed me to share their babies with my readers.