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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:
MycatsaPirate · 01/03/2017 19:43

Last year I had spinal surgery and a lady in my ward had had her nails done and had to remove them all before her surgery.

It's something to do with monitoring oxygen levels and they made her do her toes as well.

Just don't bother wasting the money. I'd get a manicure, get your nails nicely smooth and relatively short but clean of polish or false nails. You'll regret it once the baby is born and you are scared of hurting him/her with your talons anyway!

user1488038434 · 01/03/2017 19:47

The waxing is probably more relevant for after birth. You'll be bleeding for days if not weeks and it's much less daunting/hygienic to clean yourself if you're hairless. You'll also feel an array of emotions in those first few days (not necessarily only happy doting mother ones) so when you are stuck at home for a few days mostly lying or sitting down and quite fatigued a small thing like freshly painted toenails can give you a little boost of energy/confidence.

CeCeBloomer · 01/03/2017 19:49

I have had two emergency sections and gel nails both times - no issue

jayne1976 · 01/03/2017 19:53

Do you know how much pain waxing down there is when you're pregnant -no idea why it hurts - bad, the midwives have seen it all don't put yourself through the pain, and if your partner likes it that way - highly doubtful you'll be ready for anything in a while!

GladGran · 01/03/2017 20:38

In my experience, by the time you've had your baby, you won't care how your nails look! (Don't want to put you off, or anything!) If ECS needed, every General Anaesthetic I've had (most recent a few months ago) a grim-faced nurse has come along bearing a bottle of acetate to remove my nail varnish!

Believe me, you won't have time to worry about your nails for a week or two!

emmakc1977 · 01/03/2017 20:38

My SIL had brain aneurysm and they did brain surgery on her and she had gels on hands and feet - if it's an emergency I don't think they care!

Kikikaakaa · 01/03/2017 20:40

I had to remove one of mine but I had a pre op before hand which told me to do it

clarabellb · 01/03/2017 20:59

I had gel OPI finger and toenails for my DS's birth. It never crossed my mind and I didn't need a c-section so don't know about having to remove it.

I have just had sinus surgery though and I was told in advance no nail polish allowed.
I read somewhere it's for checking oxygen levels and that there are other ways this could be done so perhaps in emergency situations the nail thing isn't that important?

LoupGarou · 01/03/2017 21:04

I had a crash section as I went into labour at 34 weeks with a huge raft of medical complications and I was wearing nail varnish, they didn't stop to take it off, I don't think they even noticed, nor did I until a midwife commented on my lovely nails a few days later.

LoupGarou · 01/03/2017 21:08

I meant to add that I was planning to have a hollywood wax pre birth but didn't get around to it so rocked the half shaved yeti instead!

CeCeBloomer · 01/03/2017 21:28

Oh and I had full leg and bikini wax before giving birth and was fine

TippyT · 01/03/2017 21:47

Yawn, don't worry about do what you feel like.... it's a urban myth and personally I have never carried nail varnish remover around when I have worked in theatre ...

Emboo19 · 01/03/2017 22:18

Go for it Op, there's nothing wrong with wanting to feel nice. I had my legs and bikini wax done a few days before birth, no infections or anything. It did hurt a little bit more than before pregnancy, not as much as child birth though!
I do my own gel nails. I had mine maroon red when I had dd, I remember the midwife commenting on them.
I was never told not to have polish on, if they'd have needed to remove it in a emergency then fair enough, odds are they won't. My toes last ages too, so didn't need to redo them until dd was 4/5 weeks and that was because I was bored of the colour.

Griselda · 01/03/2017 22:21

I guess it depends what you want people to spend their time on in an emergency....trying to remove your shellac or putting an IV line in. Can't do both with one pair of hands.

endoflevelbaddy · 01/03/2017 22:30

I had to have mine removed for emcs too, so would echo save you're money and not bother

CountessWindyBottom · 01/03/2017 23:45

Avoid a shellac as most decent hospitals are insistent upon removing nail varnish when heavily pregnant.

I also opted for a fanjita wax (a full Hollywood) at 38 weeks and it sent my blood pressure so high I had to be hospitalised. Blush I've an an incredibly high pain threshold normally but having my lady garden waxed on said occasion was akin to torture. All that extra blood supply around your fanjita in late pregnancy makes it incredibly sensitive and so much less able to deal with being manhandled!

dora38 · 01/03/2017 23:46

I was waxed , spray tanned and had gel nails on fingers and toes for one emergency and two scheduled c sections. Nothing said about it. I think they had a good laugh at my tan though !!!!

Sugarlumps333 · 02/03/2017 00:42

dora83 i feel like my sister will do this (currently pregnant with dc1) and i will be the opposite - asking if there is life support on site etc etc. One shellac sister, one nightmare sister. 😁

Lozzamas · 02/03/2017 00:44

I think it's local health service policy dependant. In mine no nail varnish or waxed when pregnant in case more complex procedures are necessary. So on their literature they say no nail varnish or bush removal for the normal delivery ward not just elected CS's, in case they need to monitor during the birth or intervene. That's all pregnant Mums and no waxing or shaving please due to infection control. Save your cash treat yourself when the Midwife discharges you from home visits as a celebration.

fullofhope03 · 02/03/2017 04:11

Firstly, congratulations on your impending birth :-)
I totally understand you wanting to feel nice but just go for a mani and pedi using 'normal' nail polish. Perhaps treat yourself to a lovely Chanel one, then you'll have your fab colour to keep - (the formula is much improved and stays on much better now) and take it with you to the salon. Please don't go for a Shellac. They may well need to see your natural nail colour at some point. They will more than likely have remover but just to help them out, perhaps take some with you? Oh, and have a massage too - why not? Good luck xx

mathanxiety · 02/03/2017 05:59

A friend of mine and her H booked themselves into a hotel for a few days after she was discharged from the hospital, along with their two older children. The kids swam in the pool, the whole family had room service meals, the dad supervised the kids and they all watched tv together and drooled over the baby. Room service came every day and cleaned up.

Maybe save your money for a couple of days of doing almost nothing when they kick you out of the hospital?

Vladi10 · 02/03/2017 06:09

I've had 2 elective sections and wasn't allowed nail varnish either time on hands or feet! Or any jewllery.

Ticketybootoo · 02/03/2017 07:14

I am an ex nurse and the rules are no polish fot theatre . My daughter had an op 5 weeks ago and one of the prevtheatre checks were for nail polish on hands and feet . there is a safety reason for this rule so I would just stick with clear polish and goo luck with everything

mycatloveslego · 02/03/2017 07:15

You're braver than me, OP! I decided to get the lady garden waxed a few weeks before the end of my last pregnancy. Same place, same beautician that had done it many times before. It was sooo painful and i was really bruised afterwards. My fanjo looked like it had done 10 rounds in a boxing ring and that was before labour! I'm due in a few weeks and definitely won't be waxing this time. Confused

sadallthetime · 02/03/2017 07:58

I had an emergency c section and was early so was not prepared at all . Nail varnishes removed very roughly by mid wife and a bic razor to my bikini line . I was mortified lol