Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

If you're really shortsighted, did you wear glasses in labour?

52 replies

BeSpectacled · 12/04/2019 22:19

I can't imagine wanting to faff around with my lenses, especially as my eyes have been dry recently, but I was wondering if my glasses will annoy me during labour?

I am really, really shortsighted (-6) and can't really see anything without them...

OP posts:
FranklinTheCat · 13/04/2019 21:17

I wore them on and off for induction depending on whether I was trying to rest or not. They were taken off me for EMCS, which really upset me - I feel like I can't hear properly when I can't see, and it added to the sense of no control over what was going on.

FranklinTheCat · 13/04/2019 21:17

Made me feel really vulnerable.

StuntCroissant · 13/04/2019 21:22

I'm similarly short sighted and switched to weekly lenses (the ones you can keep in even while sleeping) before the birth so I didn't have to think about it. They were brilliant for night wakings too.

Farmerswifey12 · 13/04/2019 21:26

I wore them, DH kept asking me if I wanted to take them off, for him to take them etc.

I remember snapping at him to fuck off asking as I actually wanted to see my baby when it came out, though I appreciate now he was trying to help Blush

I did take them off in the end but only at the very very late stage ie pushing, cos I was hot and sweaty and the gas and air was knocking them because of the angle

strawberrie · 13/04/2019 21:29

Another v short sighted person here. I wore my glasses in labour number 1, had to be carted off to theatre for an emergency forceps delivery (having consented to C section if needed) and was OK to keep my glasses on in theatre.

2nd time around I still had my lenses in but it was a shorter and much more straightforward affair all round!

bakingdemon · 13/04/2019 21:30

Similarly blind here and wore my glasses as I'd hoped to use the birthing pool. Ended up having EMCS in the end and I think my husband took them off and looked after them for me.

InventedthePostIt · 13/04/2019 21:31

I'm only 1.75 but wear my contact lenses all the time. On the day I just put my glasses on. They didn't bother me at all.

Debenhamshandtowel · 13/04/2019 21:32

I took mine off as I couldn’t stand anything touching my skin. I had my eyes shut anyway!

missmapp · 13/04/2019 21:32

-13 here. Wore them for both Labour's and in birthing poo l. Wasn't a problem

MsMarvellous · 13/04/2019 21:34

Yep. -8ish in both and just kept my glasses on in the pool both times.

AmIIntrouble · 13/04/2019 21:34

Had all three with my glasses on!

Pastaagain78 · 13/04/2019 21:34

Wore them all the time and in the pool for all 3 DS

strawbmilk · 13/04/2019 21:36

I'm -9 😬 and had a long labour....but I think I changed my lenses regularly as I didn't sleep even with an epidural and then changed them just before the pushing stage as I wanted to see the baby & didn't want pictures with my glasses on 😳. I then put my glasses on that night to sleep as I didn't want to faff for them if baby needed anything & have slept with my glasses on every night since and LO is 17m. All I can say is PFB 😂

TriarFuck · 13/04/2019 21:38

Same prescription as you, OP. According to the post-birth photos, I didn't wear mine, though have no recollection of this. Presumably I couldn't see a frigging thing, including my babies, when they were born. Confused

kenandbarbie · 13/04/2019 21:43

I am very shortsighted. I had an emergency cesarean after going into labour in middle of night once and they took glasses off me and induced other times and I think they told me not to have contacts in. So I don't think it's anything to worry about, circumstances will dictate.

stucknoue · 13/04/2019 21:47

I did but I'm a control freak so need to know everything is happening

RaggieDolls · 13/04/2019 21:48

I wore my lenses for both DCs (I'm -6.5). My labours were short and in the day. I had my glasses in my bag in case I needed to take them off.

doleritedinosaur · 13/04/2019 22:07

I’m short sighted & wore lenses for first two, but my labours are short. I did get dailies for first labour.

I cannot remember for my third birth 12 weeks ago whoops.

EyeDrops · 13/04/2019 22:26

I'm -5.25 and kept my glasses on - including several hours in the birthing pool and eventual emergency caesarean. I'd had the same worry but I completely forgot I was wearing them, they just didn't register at all. It was only a day or two later when I looked at the first few photos that I realised I'd had them on the whole time!

GaryWilmottsTeeth · 15/04/2019 12:25

i wore my glasses all through labour with DD, took them off when I went to theatre for an emcs.
With DS, I can't actually remember. It was an elcs so I assume I took them off in theatre again.

Op - can you get a couple of cheap pairs off the internet if you're worried about losing them in hospital?

Knittedfairies · 15/04/2019 12:31

I have no recollection at all!

managedmis · 15/04/2019 12:32

I'm - 5.5 and had a section, I had to take my lenses out for the birth but as soon as I was able I put them back in.

HoustonBess · 15/04/2019 12:35

Would it be crazy to get some of those prescription swimming goggles for the pool and so they don't drop off?

babycakes1010 · 15/04/2019 12:43

I was short sighted...but with my 3dc I just took my glasses off as I was too hot and bothered and they were annoying me. Wish I had kept them on tho as couldn't see much going on when had any of the dc.
After dc 3 first thing I done was book in for laser eye surgery and can honestly say best thing I've ever done. Just wish I had done it sooner !

Thirtyrock39 · 15/04/2019 14:34

I mainly wear contact lenses but wore glasses in labour. The last thing you'll want is to be having to get up and take out your lenses and labour can be long

Swipe left for the next trending thread