A miscarriage is a deeply upsetting, unsettling, and very often traumatic thing for a pregnant person to experience. The pain of losing the little being growing inside you is indescribable. Where once there was a future with this child, now there’s not. We all cope with this loss in unique ways, turning to different resources for help; for some women and their partners, a “miscarriage tattoo” can be a tremendous form of comfort.

What are Miscarriage Tattoos?

I love the idea of getting miscarriage tattoo, which I think is a beautiful and empowering thing, but I don’t love the term “miscarriage tattoo.” I absolutely think it’s critical that we talk openly about misscarriage. But to me, the point of a “miscarriage tattoo” is not to remember the miscarriage, as the term seems to imply, but rather to remember and honor the little soul we carried.

A miscarriage tattoo, or a “tattoo of remeberance,” lets us take that tiny soul around with us, forever, even if we aren’t able to hold them physically in our arms.

The pain of my loss, which was very complicated and the result of some very unsettling and unfortunate circumstances, shook me to my core. It happened about a year ago, and when it did, my entire world was upended. If you’ve endured a miscarriage, I’m so sorry my friend. Please know that you’re not alone.

I’ve strongly considered getting a miscarriage tattoo in the wake of my loss. I feel it would help bring me comfort, even stability, to have something that symbolizes them on my body. That way, they wouldn’t be alone, but rather always with me—on me, even.

Where on My Body Should I Get My Tattoo?

Where you get your tattoo depends on a few key factors.

The first is size. I love the idea of a small, delicate design for this type of tattoo. The smaller the tattoo, I think, the more versatile it is when it comes to where you can place it.

The second is how private you want to keep it. You could chose a visible spot, like on your wrist or the back of your neck. But if you'd rather not have strangers asking you questions about it, then most definitely get it somewhere private and largely hidden, like a place that's covered by your underwear or bathing suit.

Miscarriage Tattoo Design Ideas

Heart
Stars
Sun (or sun and moon)
Constellation representing baby’s zodiac
Bird
Feather
Shell
Butterfly
Seed like an acorn
Initials (if you’d named your baby)
Infinity symbol
Rainbow
Stylized compass
Stylized anchor tattoo
A word that give you comfort and/or implies unity, such as hope, love, my love, together, us, bebe, M+Y [me and you]

Images to help you consider what's best for you

I’m still thinking about what the most fitting miscarriage tattoo for me is. If you’re here, I’m guessing you are, too. I hope these ideas for miscarriage tattoos I’ve included below help you, bring a smile to your face, and fill your heart.

*Please note, most of the below tattoos are not necessary miscarriage tattoos

Heart Miscarriage Tattoos

A heart tattoo is powerful, crystal clear symbol of your never-ending love for your little one.

Shell Miscarriage Tattoos

Shells are traditionally associated with motherhood and femininity. I love the idea of them enclosing and protecting something precious: a beautiful pearl.

Rainbow Miscarriage Tattoos

The rainbow is of course central to the idea of the "Rainbow Baby"—a baby born after experiencing pregnancy loss. They can also symbolize the baby who never got to greet the world: they live on, in the ether, an achingly beautiful sight that materializes again and again after particularly powerful tempests.

Birds and Butterflies Miscarriage Tattoos

Birds and butterflies are particularly salient tattoo for baby loss. Like angels, they have wings that carry them through the air, flying — or fluttering — freely and joyfully.

Feather Miscarriage Tattoos

The feather tattoo takes the bird metaphor and makes it more specific and suggestive. This is a truly poetic choice for a miscarriage tattoo.

Acorn Miscarriage Tattoos

Acorns are the seeds of oak trees; within them they thus hold the potential to become some grand and magnificent, making them grand and magnificent in and of themselves. We often think of a "nascent" baby in its earliest stages as a seed. The parallels between the two are beautiful.

Zodiac Constellation and Star Miscarriage Tattoos

It can be comforting for some to think of their lost loved one as a star shining brightly above, almost like a polar star. You could take this twinkling star one step further and select your baby's zodiac. If your baby's due date was supposed to be mid-June, for instance, you could get a tattoo of the Gemini zodiac constellation.