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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Nail polish and pregnancy

62 replies

anonacfr · 09/09/2010 18:05

This is my third pregnancy so I should know... But am not sure!
I am literally minutes pregnant (about 4 weeks as far as I can tell) and was wondering if it was safe to use nail polish.

I remember reading somewhere that the chemicals weren't great.

Any tips?

OP posts:

Report

sedgiebaby · 10/09/2010 11:52

Interestingly Seche Vite on the salon size and regular consumer bottles (top coat made by same company as China Glaze and countaining Toulene one of the traditional chemicals also in polish) does carry a warning and cites birth defects, good enough for me to steer clear.

anonacfr · 10/09/2010 11:56

hoolabombshell that's a pointless argument. Cigarettes were advertised as healthy a few decades ago and cocaine and laudanum were sold in pharmacies.
What about Thalidomide? It was taken quite happily by many pregnant women through the 50s with tragic consequences.

BPB there is no need to be so rude. I didn't say everyone had to agree with each other, I was asking a simple question. I'm clearly not the only one to have wondered, as 5mns of research on internet clearly shows.
Nice of you to imply that I am either insane or have lost all sense of reason.

Thanks PrivetDancer!

OP posts:

BaggedandTagged · 10/09/2010 11:59

"If you want the information, google it, it's there for anyone to read about."

Yes, because everything published on the internet is the gospel truth........

BonniePrinceBilly · 10/09/2010 12:06

pmsl @ "google it". That pretty much says it all.......

anonacfr · 10/09/2010 12:10

Bye bye Seche Vite! Shame, it's a really good product.

OP posts:

Laska · 10/09/2010 12:33

BaggedandTagged and BonniePrinceBilly - forgive me, I've clearly made an error of judgement. I mistakenly credited you with the intelligence to search for information and sort the wheat from the chaff. As you're implying that you're unable to do this, perhaps you should step away from the interwebs

hoolabombshell · 10/09/2010 13:58

Okay OP, I wasn't 'having a go' or anything, what I did say was that I believe it is the fumes in nail polish remover that are more dangerous than wearing nail polish on your nails, and that, from what I have read (and don't we all have access to so much information thanks to Google) I do not believe that occasional use would constitute a substantial risk.

My point about cigarettes and stout was that, as time goes on and more information becomes available, we learn that these substances are potentially dangerous and so we cease to use them whilst pregnant. I don't exactly think nail polish fits that category yet.

BonniePrinceBilly · 10/09/2010 14:00

I can. You, apparently, can't. Thats sort of the point.

boognish · 10/09/2010 22:29

Maybe bonnieprincebilly and privetdancer haven't worked out that poisonous chemicals don't have to be applied to the skin to be harmful. They can also enter the bloodstream and so get to the foetus by being inhaled, which is why oven cleaner and paint thinners are best avoided.

And isn't it better that nowadays we know more about what is potentially harmful than that we take these risks in blissful ignorance? Anonacfr is doing the right thing by her baby by trying to get better informed.

chloesbaby · 10/09/2010 22:33

I hope it's not harmful. I've just done my fingernails and toenails. Mind you, I've also been sipping half a Guinness.

BonniePrinceBilly · 10/09/2010 22:41

boognish you are talking shite. Poisonous chemicals? Heres a tip, if its not poisonous when you're not pregnant, its not posionous when you are.
Why do you imagine such things to become suddenly harmful? Try and apply a little logic for a change.

PrivetDancer · 10/09/2010 22:53

Oh god, really, boognish??
So could inhaling cigarette smoke be harmful??

BonniePrinceBilly · 10/09/2010 23:03

Oh jesus, inhaling air could be harmful! Has anyone done a study> I must google it immediately!

chrissieo3 · 14/09/2013 19:25

Nail polish that contains phthalates can cause birth defects in boys

DaleyBump · 14/09/2013 20:00

Where were you two years ago?

SomethingOnce · 14/09/2013 20:26

Bonnie Heres a tip, if its not poisonous when you're not pregnant, its not posionous when you are

Thalidomide. Currently being used to treat leprosy in Brazil.

Thalidomide. Causes birth defects.

DaleyBump · 14/09/2013 20:28

Guys, zombie thread.

SomethingOnce · 14/09/2013 20:36

D'oh!

HopeS01 · 15/09/2013 12:16

I wouldn't worry about nail varnish, OP. I'm sure you could find someone who would tell you the dangers of doing anything while you're pregnant!
If we can't paint our nails, dye our hair, expose ourselves to the sun, wear heels etc. what can we do to make ourselves feel a bit better about our growing tummies, panda eyes, stretch marks and swollen feet?

HopeS01 · 15/09/2013 12:18

I should have read to the bottom before posting... oops

Peacenquiet2 · 15/09/2013 12:32

=-O really? Ive used nail polishin all my pgs including this one, even so far as to make sure my toe nails are pristenely polished for labour! Both my dcs are healthy so i would'nt worry about it x

Sammi1986 · 15/09/2013 12:40

I was advised using nail polish is fine, the only time it's a worry is if you work in a salon and are exposed to the fumes all day every day. I still use polish as I make false nail sets, I just make sure it's ventilated and I don't do it for long periods, and I don't use it frequently in a week

Congratulations on your pregnancy :)

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TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 15/09/2013 12:50

I know this is a Zombie thread but to underline:

the EU bans known hormone disruptors in cosmetics eg phthalates or restricts them to levels that would not cause any harm so links to US sites are completely irrelevant

it's the dose that makes the poison

your own body naturally produces formaldehyde.

there is no actual evidence that nail polish is linked to birth defects and while absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, the use of nail polish is so widespread for long and studies of birth defects so comprehensive that the fact the link has never been established is significant

plenty of women all over the world have given birth to healthy babies while having regular manicures and pedicures.

baggyb · 15/09/2013 12:50

This is something my hubby has done a fair bit of research into. There are a number of day-to-day items which emit chemicals which may be harmful to adults, never mind unborn babies that I had no idea about! Having said that, it's very much our choice whether or not we use them or not. If you don't feel comfortable with something, that's your prerogative. You should not be made to feel bad or ridiculed for asking a question. Enjoy your pregnancy. X

Sammi1986 · 15/09/2013 15:38

what's a zombie thread?!

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