Why can't you wear makeup in ELCS?

[whatsthetimemrwolf]

Vain question but just wondered why you aren't supposed to wear makeup?

Is make up a real no-no (not taking plaster here, just a bit of mascara and blusher)? Did you wear any?

I'm guessing that it's because if you need to be put under, they would like to see if you are going blue (i.e. lack of oxygen). Same reason why you can't wear nail polish.

Are you serious????!!! Its major abdominal surgery you know, not a fashion show! There's issues of cleanliness to consider in operating theatres.

They want to see your colour etc.

The nail varnish is as they check oxygen levels in the extremities

Oh I misread the thread title .

Thought there was going to be someone standing at the door of the Early Learning Centre handing out cotton wool and make-up remover!!

No reason I can see why you couldnt wear make up.
Nail varnish is because they like to see the colour on your nails, although this is less relevant in c sections as the anaesthetist will be by your head rather than by your hands or feet.
I am yet to see an anaesthetist check anything important by looking at toe/fingernails, we have monitoring for that, and lots of it!

Does anyone wear any?

I must admit as I was giving birth, no one was looking at my face!

I had eyeliner and waterproof mascara on during mine. Nothing else so my skin colour was unaffected.

Why the feck would you want to?

Dd is 6 and I've hardly worn any since the day she was born.

I used to be an operating theatre nurse, and my understanding is that this rule dates from the time when the anaesthetist monitored the patient's condition by keeping a finger on their pulse, and watching the colour of their skin. I suspect that this is somewhat out of date, given the monitoring that is routinely used in Theatre nowadays - though it would obscure any cyanosis somewhat. I can't see why it would have hygiene implications in a caesarian, as the incision is a fair way away from the face (if they are doing it right ).

It may well be that nailvarnish stops the pulse oximeter probe (the clip that's put on your finger) accurately measuring the oxygenation of your blood - I haven't worked for a number of years so am not sure.

Mum is an anaesthetist and she says the colour and look of patient is often earlier indicator of problems than all the fancy equipment.

So that would be why.

I was going to say so they can see if you are turning blue. Or green, or anything really.
if you start getting too pale they may be pre-instructed to apply some more spray tan, so it is important they know this is happening.

When I did my hopital tour midwife said as long as you kept it minimal you would probably get away with a little make up but nailpolish is a definite no as they need to monitor the colour of nails as it is an indicator of problems. I wore tinted moisuriser and mascara during my elective section and nobdy commented on it.

God, I wore full make up for both my sections .

I couldn't have contemplated not doing so. When I was on the post natal ward, another mum asked me incredulously 'Are you wearing make up'.

@ suwoo

Having chipped in with my twopenneth, it occurs to me that i don't remember them mentioning makeup or nail varnish when I had my elcs, was only 6 months ago. Mind you i wasn't wearing any Jewellery inc earrings they asked about.

I wore make up for my c-section in the summer. In fact fake tanned and did my nails the night before. The colour on my toe nails was much admired by lovely surgeon.

So Suwoo - I raise you the shallow and vacuosness

OI even put make up on as soon as I was allowed to shower.

You can't wear any for any surgery, not just elcs.

I had to take my nail varnish off .

Tracey, I raise you a brazilian wax.....

The pulse oximeter that goes on your finger to measure oxygen levels doesn't work if you're wearing nail varnish.

Dunno about the make-up, will ask DH. I've the funny feeling that it's something to do with the risk that your make-up can catch fire if the surgeon uses diathermy to cauterise any bleeding.....but I could well be talking out of my *rse here .

So what happens if you have an emergency C section, and you already have nail varnish on? They don't stop to take it off do they?!

Thinking about it, I DID have varnish on for my emergency CS - but it was a French manicure, so maybe that fooled them...

Yes they do stop to take it off for an emcs. I went into labour at 37 weeks with funky hot pink toe-nails and when they decided to do an emcs they swooped into action with the cotton woold and nail varnish remover and took it off. Made a right pigs ear of it too, all smudgy .

Tracey, I also had my eyebrows done the day before I went in and I fake tanned my face. I took my GHD's in with me, admittedly I didn't use them.

I wore eyeshadow and mascara for my cs last week Im glad they didn't make me take it off because i looked hideous during/after DD1's birth with no make up! Much better this time

LOL's at the posts here!

As you can tell I'm very vain! Looking back on photos of my last ELCS I think OMG, I looked horrendous (without the excuse of an EMCS). These photos were circulated to all and sundry and yes, I know everyones looking at the baby but....

I've been writing my hospital bag list and ashamedly its rather long with my bits and pieces. My GHD's depend whether I've got the space !

No brazilian suwoo - you win

But surgeon did say I had lovely uterine scars from previous 2 c-sections

Yay, I win the shallowest mum to be contest

Am still at your uterine scars though, my latest section completely bodged up the lovely scar from my first one