nail varnish

[BeautifulBlondePineapple]

I was thinking about going for a mani/pedi just before I'm due, but my Mum (a former nurse) said that I wouldn't be allowed to wear nail varnish in case I needed an emergency section.

Anyone know if this is true?

Not sure about with a section, but I had a pedicure just before both my births and it was heaven. Nice too see the perfect toes under the wrecked body afterwards too

Go for it, if it's a problem then they'll cover your nails with surgical tape. They're not really anywhere near the vital zone anyway.

You wouldn't be able to wear nail varnish if you needed a section because you would need to wear an oxygen saturation probe, but as that is the less likely scenario compared to having a normal delivery I would imagine that you could wear it, they can take it off if needed whilst preparing you for theatre, I'm sure they would have nail polish remover because I'm sure they've come across this before!

I had painted nails in my emCS. My friend had her polish removed for her section but mine was left in tact. They didnt shave me either. I did have a really rushed section with a spinal block and my friends was bit more relaxed with epidural etc so maybe it was due to time available?

I'd still have it done, my feet were terrible at the end of pregnancy and a pedicure and reflexology were so so welcome.

From an NHS webpage:

"It is possible to monitor how well your blood is oxygenated by looking at the colour of your nails. Therefore, if you are due to have an operation please ensure that you are not wearing nail varnish upon admission to hospital. The wearing of nail varnish is not permitted in theatre and the removal of this can cause unnecessary delays to theatre lists."

I had an emergency section at 37 weeks, and they quicky half removed some/most of my polish from my toes, and shaved me quickly also, then i was rushed down the hall

So i'd get it done, but if you need a section, they'll just remove it :)

I was told not wear nail varnish for my elcs.

If you are planning a section then yes, I would avoid wearing nail polish for the reason quoted above (colour of your nails being an indicator of oxygen levels). But if you're hoping for a natural birth then you can probably risk it. I had a pedicure just before I gave birth, and it didn't cause any problems when I had to have an op under spinal block afterwards.

Once when DD was in hospital the nurses had to remove nail varnish from another child before she went down to theatre. The children's hospital have a very strict rule about no nail varnish. I expect it is to check the saturation levels.

Can you just have them pedicured with a clear polish, not a coloured polish?
Good luck with the birth.
:)

Your mum's right. The anaesthetist will need to monitor your oxygen levels by looking at the colour of your nails should you have to have an emergency procedure.

No-one said anything to me about nail varnish, and I had it on when I had DD (VB but EMCS was talked about)

What Medi said above.

I'm sure you could spruce up your nails with a nice trim, file and buff without resorting to polish though. Besides, if you do have a pedicure/manicure, when are you ever going to have the time after the birth maintain and redo chipped polish?

If your pregnancy is going well so far and a cesarean is not looking likely, go for it. You can always remove it if needed, and at least your nails will be well trimmed and skin will be soft!

My doula has actually recommended that I get a mani/pedi as part of a pampering regime that is supposed to relax me and help the get the hormones going that start labour. In addition to massages, reflexology, facials.... :)

They took the nail polish off for my EMCS. And they made a right mess doing it (don't blame them as they were trying to get DS out alive) , my toes were pink and smeary for days as I couldn't get down there to finish the job properly.

I was told not to wear nail polish for my ELCS.

I spent a large part of last week being sized up by various surgeons and anaesthetists as there was a near certainty that I'd need an EMCS when I went into labour. Not one of them mentioned removing my nail varnish (or jewellery for that matter).

Fortunately I didn't need any surgical intervention, and my nails still look fabulous!

Might be worth checking with the hospital. I'm sure they'll all have different policies.

If your pregnancy is going well so far and a cesarean is not looking likely, go for it.

in my experience, this means nothing. I had a great pregnancy and labour was fine but had an EMCS as baby was an undiagnosed breech.

If you really really want to do your pedicure / manicure then check with the hospital. But don't assume it won't happen to you 'just because'. (And I do hope that it doesn't happen to you)

Thanks for all the replies!

I'll check with the midwife for the hospital policy.

If she oks it then I might get my toenails done nice & bright (can't reach them myself at the moment!) and leave my fingernails clear just in case.

Didn't need a section for DC1 and DC2, but you can never be sure what's going to happen and wouldn't want to delay any surgery for such a trivial reason.

It's the toenails they care about more I think. Before surgery in the past (not CS) I have been told to take off nail varnish).

But frankly, if you are not planning a CS, them removing your lovely pedi in the course of an emcs is likely to be of little bother to you as you will be recovering from surgery.

The midwife I saw before my ELCS told me to take off all the nail polish on my toes & fingers, but in the end I totally forgot about it, and no one even noticed when I went in for the surgery the next morning (she had said that they would provide some nail polish remover for me as I couldn't get out to buy some) My nail technician said that they should just need to take the polish off from one fingernail to monitor the colour of the nail bed (even with false nails as I have).