Midwife has really long nails!!

[Janefx40]

I'm not sure if this is normal or not but it's the first time I've noticed it. This is my first baby and I'm 39+4. I went in yesterday for a sweep and the midwife had long nails - about 2.5cm from base to tip (or 1cm protruding from her finger).

They weren't painted or anything so I don't think it was a fashion thing (not that that would make a difference).

Obviously she wore gloves but I was really surprised and not sure I could cope with this for the actual delivery.

She was so lovely and I didn't want to say anything but I could feel them poking into me as she touched my cervix.

Is that a normal thing? I've not noticed it amongst other midwives I've seen but then I've not had an internal examination before.

I'm a nurse and have worked in midwifery.When we were training back in the 80's we had to stand in line with our hands up , palms facing up and god help you if any nail was visible over the tips of your fingers.That has stayed with me forever and I always keep my nails short even now that I am no longer working.I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone working in the medical profession even wants long nails both from a practical or hygienic point of view.

It's her business how long her nails are and it would be the very last thing on your mind during delivery

No it isnt.
Its against hygiene regs and nurses are not allowed long nails for a variety of reasons.

Plus the very fact that she is hurting patients with them should be a consideration. Doing internals with long nails is a pretty basic no no.

I think it's my business if someone who is going to have their hand in my vagina has long nails.

I actually asked to change one midwife partly because her long nails (possibly false, as they were painted), creeped me out.
Mind you, the main reason was that she told me crying would harm the baby, when I was specifically seeing her because of my ante-natal depression, so I mightn’t have minded the nails so much if she hadn’t been so horrible personally.

Not strictly relevant, but might reassure you. In the old days midwives always had a long finger nail (I think it was a little finger on one hand). This was used to cut tongue-ties just after birth if a baby was born with one. I wish tongue-tie was checked for more regularly now. No one looks unless you have persistent problems with breastfeeding, and even then they might not, even though there is loads of evidence that it causes a myriad of health problems. I saw a great TED talk on it, which I will send a link to, because I thin it is useful for any expectant mother or mother struggling with a baby who is fussing a lot. www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=lpON0PS0r_E

Definitely not normal and I have never seen long nails on my colleagues. Aside from the infection control issues, and the situation you described, I think it would be really difficult to effectively resuscitate a baby if you needed to do chest compressions using the two finger method.

@genevieva All babies should be routinely checked for tongue tie after birth. It never used to be but standards have changed a lot, particularly with the big push towards encouraging breastfeeding.

@CatchingBabies that is great to hear. I raised it. My concerns were rubbished. Even though I knew that my second baby, who was tongue-tied was struggling much more than my first who wasn't, I was told I was doing a great job and I just because it was easy first time I shouldn't expect it to be this time. When my second child got older it was clear that the tongue-tie was preventing her from making an 'r' sound. She also had poor oral posture because she couldn't rest her tongue on the roof of her mouth and had started tooth grinding. She also had no room for her adult teeth. I took her for another consultation and was told that the speech impediment would need to be more severe for them to consider tongue-tie release and that the other symptoms didn't count. Luckily I was able to afford to get private treatment. She now has good oral posture and her face is grown nicely so she has room for all her teeth, but not everyone can afford this. It is also wrong that the clear link between tongue tie, oral posture and problems like teeth grinding and crowded teeth are not taken seriously by doctors. I hope tongue-tie release is now routine, and not offered only when you can prove you have a serious problem with breastfeeding.

Unfortunately not a lot has changed in terms of qualifying for frenulectomy. We routinely check for tongue tie and refer all cases but frenulectomy is only offered is there is a feeding problem. They are not allowed to perform it on the NHS in order to prevent future speech issues etc. Additionally as we now find it more and refer more wait lists can be long and many parents with severe feeding issues go private due to the wait.

I am sorry to hear that. I suppose it is a variety of factors, including strain on the NHS. It is something I feel passionate about because I have an untreated tongue-tie too. Apparently I was a fussy baby. It lead to crowded teeth. My orthodontist - a family friend - did what was routine at the time, but it was hugely damaging. I had 4 teeth removed and my teeth pull back. I now have permanent temporomandibular joint dysfunction and, less importantly, but still impactful, it ruined my face. I was a really pretty girl before my lower face was pulled back towards my neck. All for want of a simple procedure when I was a baby. That is why I wasn't taking the risk on my own daughter.

when she booked the next appointment she said it was a shame but she wasn't in that day

If you feel uncomfortable talking to her about it you could raise this with the other midwife or ask to switch to the new one if you like them.

She shouldn’t have long nails, she should know to have them fairly short to ensure that she doesn’t pass on any infections

@Allfednonedead that is terrible! I hope you managed to get someone more supportive to see you after that and that you are feeling better now.

@Genevieva thanks for the info. Always useful to be forewarned about these things. I will look out for it.

Thanks everyone else for your replies. The odd thing was that she clearly was a well established and respected member of staff, not a temp or anything. I'm surprised no one else has commented.

@ShartGoblin that might be a plan to mention to whoever I see on Thursday. Tho I should really have been brave enough to say it to her directly. I'm about to be a Mum so will have to get used to standing up for things!

@Bigballa ewww! That does not sound good!!

@79andnotout how are you? Hope all is going well. Lovely to hear from you

X

I’m a Midwife & our guidelines are very clear that nails should be kept short, mainly for infection control reasons but honestly if you’re doing regular VE’s it’s just good manners!

@Janefx40 YANBU! Long nails are hard to keep clean and surely they must dig in when she feels the baby’s position?

Hope your sweep goes well and all the best for a safe delivery and healthy happy baby xx

@Janefx40 - I'm good. Still plodding along.