Frivolous Question re C-section and Painted toenails!

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Hi
A friend has very sweetly given me a pedicure voucher as I was envious of her perfect feet and I haven't seen mine for weeks!
I'm having a c-section - if i had the pedicure done now, would I have to remove varnish before c-section? (I heard a rumour about this!)
I have time to do it now (5days away) and probably less time to do it after! I quite fancy posh toenails to say hello to in the morning!
x

Yes nail varnish will be removed. The colour of the nail bed is a tell tale sign of something, probably something to do with oxygen levels.

Yep, I'm afraid they usually take it off as it is a good way to check oxygen perfusion (but they might be kind and say you can keep it on if they can see fingernails).

Don't paint your fingers, but your toes should be fine. The pulse oximeter is attached to your finger during the CS, then they move it to your big toe in the recovery area. If you are slim, they can use the area just above your toenail as there is a vein close to the surface there.

The pulse oximeter uses a laser light to detect both your heart rate and how much oxygen is in you blood.

I had tarty toes for both my elec CSs and nothing was said!

Unfortunately all nail varnish - hands and feet - is removed in almost all cases but it does depend on your risk and hospital. It is not only for the pulse ox meter but to check capilary (sp?) refill just to be sure blood is flowing properly

Prior to my first c-section thet removed nail varnish from fingers and toes - really badly - it was smeared all over my feet and hands - so next day my Mum came armed with more nail varnish remover to sort it out properly. It seems different hospitals probably have different policies on this one!

in the absence of a pulse oximter, checking cap refill is a crude way of assessing perfusion (we used to do it in mountain rescue before we got an oximter). To be of any use in an acute situation, you have to do cap refill every couple of minutes. Pulse oximetry is a continuous method of monitoring circulation.
You wouldn't do both.

They use your nail coulour as an indicator for something or other so it's important you don't have them painted. Save your voucher for a treat afterwards!