Shellac in hospital

[Stargazer87]

Random question but I heard somewhere that you can't have shellac on your nails when you go into hospital to give birth? Is that true??

[October2020]

Yes - the monitors can't read through it. Ideally no nail polish on fingers or toes.

[bellsbuss]

I had fingers and toes done 3 days before giving birth and nothing was says to me.

[bellsbuss]

Said

[Yankathebear]

It can interfere with the oximetre.

[Stargazer87]

I've had a bit of a search online and there's lots of mixed messages, some say it's absolutely fine, others say the machines can't read through dark colours? Others say avoid altogether?

[Yankathebear]

They can read through it but it does effect the reading. The oximeter can be placed elsewhere but again it’s not as accurate.

[Cheesecakejar]

I think if it was an issue then the midwife would specifically tell you not to have shellac on. I never got told anything like this or even knew anything about it until this thread!

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Some of the monitors can't read through nail varnish.
I'm not pregnant, but in and out of hospital a lot and if I suspect a stay is iminent I always take off my nail varnish.

[minnieok]

They don't really like you to have nail colour on because (natural) nail colour are a good indicator of oxygen levels etc. Of course now there's technology to do this but many midwives will prefer bare nails. I was told no varnish 20 years ago, there was not a trend for shellac or extensions then

[RAINSh0wers]

I had shellac on for both my deliveries and it wasn’t a problem. I think the midwives would make more of a point of telling you not to get it done if it was a real issue.

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

Id take it off.

[WhyIsItSoHardToPickAUsername]

I had it on both fingers and toes (as I always do) when I had ds. No one mentioned it except the midwife complimenting it. I had a rotational forceps delivery in theatre.
I also had it on when I had emergency surgery a couple of years ago, again no one mentioned it.

[AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings]

I was told specifically not to have shellac for birth and for a d&c. So I think it's best to ask your trust.

[Stargazer87]

A few of you have made a good point that if it was an issue you'd be told about it in advance...

[Zelda93]

My sister is a senior midwife and I checked with her and she told me no nail polish ..

[Reader1984]

I had acrylics and no one said anything to me. It was never mentioned beforehand by midwives either.

[BilboBercow]

I had to be taken in early and still had a shellac on and had to pick it off op. Honestly avoid.

[Turtleturtle81]

The last time I was in hospital I was told to take my nail varnish off. This was for a d&c though.

[nandaandm]

I had acrylics and nothing was mentioned. I thought that was if you were having a CSection.... I may have just made that up ! 😊

[Prelockdownbaby]

I was told I could have gel/shellac on either hands or toes but not both so they'd have somewhere for oximeter if needed

[Prelockdownbaby]

But I won't have any this time round in case

[Needingsupportplease]

I went in to be induced on a Monday and was in for 11 days ended up having an emcs, nothing was said to me and I had gel on my nails and lots of monitoring..

[Stargazer87]

I'm still none the wiser, seems to be a mix of opinions 🤷🏻‍♀️

[April1990]

I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl 23/08 via emergency c section and had gel nails and toes! Nothing said to me and I had heart rate monitor on my finger throughout labour 🤷🏼‍♀️

[30under]

It's a pain, the pulse oximeter won't be accurate. If you can leave one nail free, staff would appreciate it!