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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To have this first world problem?

203 replies

Happyandhungry · 27/02/2017 20:12

So my first baby is due in a few weeks. I am about to book in for a pre birth hollywood wax Shock but i also planned on having a pedicure and manicure just to feel nice. Everyone is saying ooh no i wouldn't in case you need an emergency c-section! They'll literally stand over you and make you take all the nail polish off before theatre?! Is that true?! I planned on having shellac on fingers and toes which i couldn't get off even if they stood over me so what should i do? I am not hugely vain etc i just wanted to feel nice before going through child birth. AIBU?

OP posts:
MumUndone · 28/02/2017 16:02

Your nails are the last thing you're going to care about during childbirth...and for about 2 years afterwards Grin

bigbluebus · 28/02/2017 16:04

It is true that nail varnish interferes with the ability of the SATS monitor to get an accurate reading - a respiratory consultant once told me that darker colours were worse than lighter ones.

It is also true that SATS readings can be obtained by putting the probe on the ear lobe - I have witnessed this happening many times.

JacquelineChan · 28/02/2017 16:07

I had a full wax - when i winced at the pain the lady very helpfully said this is nothing compared to childbirth :--)

and I also had a mani and pedi. It was great as i had not been able to reach my feet for months so i felt lovely after and my fingernails looked great in those first photos after DS was born

then after that it went down hill in the grooming department for years ! so i say yes - do it while you can

AnoiseAnnoysanOyster · 28/02/2017 16:37

Your nails are the last thing you're going to care about during childbirth...and for about 2 years afterwards

Not just 2 years. Grin

MummyPenguin2 · 28/02/2017 16:42

I have a voucher for a mani pedi and as I can no longer reach my feet I desperately want a pedicure. However, I'm booked for an elective c section and the pre-op info specifically says no nail varnish or gel nails. I'll have to save it until after baby arrives

MummyPenguin2 · 28/02/2017 16:45

And I disagree with the posters saying you'll stop caring about nails after kids. I loved having beautiful shellac toenails. They lasted for weeks and made me looked vaguely "groomed" despite chronic sleep deprivation

MrsWinklepicker · 28/02/2017 18:02

It's not just for the monitor, they like to be able to see your nails under GA, as they will go blue without enough oxygen. I'm sure they manage in an emergency, but when it's elective, or you know there is the possibility of surgery, you may as well be as safe as possible.

tabithakitty · 28/02/2017 18:05

I had my appendix removed in pretty much an emergency and they took my nail varnish off - they had remover but not sure if they would have the stuff to get shellac off.

I wouldn't tbh - what is every second counts?

BadToTheBone · 28/02/2017 18:17

Two sections, both with nail varnish on.

Winemamma · 28/02/2017 18:17

I've had 2 planned c-sections and the advice sheet I received for both of them said no nail varnish.

Sophierome · 28/02/2017 18:26

Yes please don't get it done. Just in case you need an emergency c section things go so quick you hardly understand what's happening.

ItWentInMyEye · 28/02/2017 18:27

I went to great lengths to paint my toenails when pregnant with DS1 and ended up with an emergency c-section, they wiped it all off.

BalloonSlayer · 28/02/2017 18:43

I once had a Drs appointment when she tried to check my oxygen saturation by the finger thing but it wouldn't work as I had shellac.

A shame because actually I was severely anaemic and it didn't get picked up for a good few months, and I wonder if she would have picked it up had I not had shellac. Then again, I had shellac because my nails were splintering, which turned out to be because I was anaemic so . . .

Macblondie · 28/02/2017 18:49

I wouldn't... I had a baby just in October there, and they took off all my nail varnish (not shellac) in a hurry before I had an emergency c section. My friend was the same a few months previous in a different hospital.

myluckyyear · 28/02/2017 18:50

I had a planned c section. On the day I had to be there for 8am, as did all the other mums to be, and it was a first come first served system.
I was pipped to first place by another lady, but got to leapfrog her and claim first place in the queue as she turned up wearing nail varnish so had to wait until someone located some nail varnish remover.
Smile

presidentfart · 28/02/2017 18:58

We keep nail varnish remover in the clinic for the pulse ox machine.

GrumpyGreta · 28/02/2017 19:06

I had planned sections and was told no nail varnish 😣. Did have everything waxed though😁, wanted to look tidy down there with so many people having a look!

ChristmasAccountant · 28/02/2017 19:10

I've had a planned and an emergency csection with acrylic fingers and shellac toes and no-one cared!

squizita · 28/02/2017 19:15

I asked this and the midwife chuckled a bit and said (roughly) some women go into labour in Tesco, only a tiny number need surgery and they have the equipment to cope anyway.

I went into labour after being specifically told, 6 hr earlier, after an internal exam that I would not go into labour for at least 3 days. So the nails were done. Mine was an intense but vagina birth so no one batted an eyelid.

MsJamieFraser · 28/02/2017 19:15

If your going in for an emergency c-section the last thing they will be thinking of is "oh I must take her nail polish off Hmm

I would worry about it.

Vq1970 · 28/02/2017 19:23

I had hernia surgery a few weeks ago and this was one of my concerns! I have bio gel on my nails to give them strength. I asked my anaesthetist if I needed to take if off and she said no. They can use your ear lobe or nose to check for pinkness and when they put the monitor on my finger it worked fine anyway. I went into surgery with red talons.

ItWentInMyEye · 28/02/2017 19:23

@MsJamieFraser mine was an emergency and they did take the time to remove my nail varnish. So it must be important.

SlummyMummyof3 · 28/02/2017 19:23

Have either the manicure or pedicure just not both. As long as they can see one it'll be fine.

For my eldest I had a pedicure that matched my birthing nightie, much to the amusement of the midwives. I ended up with an emergency C section but they didn't remove the varnish on my toes they just watched my fingers x

Libitina · 28/02/2017 19:23

As an anaesthetic practitioner if you had nail varnish on, one finger nail of polish would be removed (yes, we have remover). The other options would be a probe on your earlobe or clipped to your nostril (If I can find that probe).
The anaesthetist and I care more about how much oxygen is in your blood than how nice your manicure looks for the photos. Sorry.

Again, I would do as PP suggest and just have varnish rather than shellac as easier to remove in an emergency. Plus it will be easier to care for with a newborn baby.

Make sure your wax is at least a few days before your due date as waxing and shaving can increase the risk of wound infection if you did end up with a emlscs.

Good luck with the birth and hopefully you won't end up in theatre Smile

belgina · 28/02/2017 19:24

We used to take it off and yes, all mat units I have worked keep nail varnish remover on the wards for emergency c/s. A while a go the anaesthetists decided it wasn't necessary. Can't remember why though.

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