water birth/ self tan

[shaz1976]

Hi Ladies, I don't want to sound vein or anything her, I'm planning to have a water birth this time it's my second baby.
As most of us do, I feel awful so been applying self tan once a week just to brighten me up and always have nails and toes done. Anyway do you know if I'm wearing self tan and labour goes to plan am I allowed to have a water birth? someone said they had read somewhere that if you've got it on the midwives don't like you getting in the pool ??

[GingerbreadPudding]

Ha ha, brilliant! I have literally no idea but why would it be a problem? Would it come off?

[softlysoftly]

Erm can't see why it would be a problem as long as it's not just been applied. Does it come off?

Not sure I'd be loading my skin up with that much chemical when pg though

Though on the plus side I LOVE that your biggest labour worry is tan

[shaz1976]

Ha ha it's not my biggest worry at all the pain and how long it takes is what worries me!
If you're in warm water for long period of time it starts to come off and I don't think it will be very nice in the pool.

[GingerbreadPudding]

I'd avoid using it in the week before then. Id be a bit embarrassed by it floating around.

[RoundRobinSparkles]

"Not sure I'd be loading my skin up with that much chemical when pg though"

Fake tan is perfectly safe to use in pregnancy. The DHA in fake tan only stays on the skin and isn't absorbed so it won't affect the baby or be harmful. The only risk is an allergic reaction to the mother although spray tans aren't recommended as they don't know the effects of inhaling the spray.

OP, have you tried a gradual tanner? Might be less likely to come off. Mine's always fine in the bath or in a pool on holiday although I suppose you would be in a birthing pool for longer.

[RoundRobinSparkles]

You might not even care about it floating around when you're in labour. You'll be thinking about other things, I'm sure!

[shaz1976]

I only apply it myself as I did read about the possible risk of inhaling it, and know its not harmful to my bubba :) if it was I certainly wouldn't be doing it i'm really not that vain I just like to make myself look a human i'm so pale and especially this time of year it's nice to brighten myself up.
Also it would be a good idea not to apply it that week , but who knows when the Lil lady will make an appearance??
I think I'll ask my midwife on next app she must know?
Thanks ladies xxxx

[shaz1976]

No it won't bother me, I've just heard that some hospitals don't like it in their birthing pools x

[sillymillyb]

Surely with all the blood and poo and stuff they won't mind fake tan? Also, are you sure it comes off in water? I've swam in mine loads (when I can be arsed to put it on) and I don't leave a trail of brown behind me I'm sure!

[softlysoftly]

Well how would they know would be really rude for a mw to say "are you always that colour" and by the time you've pooed in the pool it's all going to be pretty murky anyway

[weeblueberry]

Are you planning on actually having the baby in the water? If so you might not want the chemicals to be mixed in the water that your baby is born in...

[reikizen]

Of course you can wear fake tan! You could wear fully body paint if you want! Where I used to work, parts of the beds were permanently stained from fake tanned legs.

[shaz1976]

I don't think baby will be in the water long enough for it to effect them, not that it would anyway.
Thank you for your replies ladies,I know it's not an important factor whatsoever I just hope I have a safe delivery. I hope I can have a water birth as I've been told it's a lot nicer and easier in the water.
I was induced with my son and it took over 48 hours all in all so just preying it happens naturally and straight forward this time !!!