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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Contact lenses and labour

22 replies

PugOwner · 22/02/2013 20:54

Slightly weird question, but I am pregnant for the first time and wondering how other contact lens wearers dealt with the logistics of labour... Did your eyes get really dry, did you have to change lenses partway through and how possible was that? I never wear glasses, but the thought of being unable to see and also in lots of pain really freaks me out! If you are using daily disposables how many should you take in with you? Any advice/experience gratefully received...

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hillyhilly · 22/02/2013 20:56

The fact that I'm struggling to remember definitely makes me think there wasn't an issue! I think for my first as it was an overnight labour, I didn't have them in (my sights not so bad that I can't manage at all without), for my second I'm pretty sure I had the lenses in and took them out as normal at bedtime

NoodieRoodie · 22/02/2013 20:56

I wear monthly disposables and kept mine in throughout labour with no issues

EmpireBiscuit · 22/02/2013 20:57

I had my contacts in when I was in labour - didn't think about them until the wee one was born. After I knew he was okay and I was put back together I noticed my eyes were hurting me.....it's just that giving birth hurts more!

CointreauVersial · 22/02/2013 20:57

I seem to remember taking my lenses out once I made it to established labour. It was one less thing to worry about.

In fact, I'm pretty sure they ask you to, in case you have to be whizzed into theatre.

Trust me, you won't be looking at much once you are in labour; I had my eyes closed for a lot of it.

Supersesame · 22/02/2013 21:01

I've very short sighted and left dailies in for labour. Never mentioned it to anyone. Was overnight labour and took them out once I was tucked up in postnatal for a nap.
I worried about that too when pregnant!

goodygumdrops · 23/02/2013 08:32

You would normally be asked to remove them if you need a c section so worth taking glasses with you anyway.

HelenofSparta · 23/02/2013 09:01

Glasses for me and then whipped thm off for photos after!

MirandaWest · 23/02/2013 09:03

I can't remember. With DS seeing as he was born at 2:50am I guess I took them out at some point.

With DD it was a daytime birth although I am wondering whether I put them in whilst having contractions..

recall · 23/02/2013 09:04

I wear them and never gave them a thought during labour....too much else going on. Just ensure you have plenty in your bag, and maybe some good drops. Sometimes there are long boring gaps in the initial part, plenty of time to change them then.

QueenofClean · 23/02/2013 09:07

Wish I'd of thought about wearing mine for both labours. Could of or DD2 as was being induced but never crossed my mind to take spare ones - was in for over a week!

With DC3 I will take a whole load with me - look better for photos and my glasses annoy me!

googietheegg · 23/02/2013 09:08

I worried about this too as I wear dailies and am -11 so didn't want to be left without! I bought some two weekly ones you can sleep in off the Internet and got used to them a bit before then put those in when I went into labour. Luckily I did as was in labour 36 hours!!! I also took in plenty of drops you can use with lenses in and showed Dh how to put them in, a little bottle of all in one saline and a case and about 10 pairs of dailies.

googietheegg · 23/02/2013 09:09

I also took in my glasses and wore waterproof mascara!!

suntodayplease · 23/02/2013 09:48

I wear monthly disposables and found they irritated my eyes towards the end of my pregnancy, but for vanity purposes I thought I'd wear them whilst being induced (with full face of make up and straightened hair!) within a few hours of established labour I'd pulled them out forgot to put them in the container with the solution so they dried out, plus forgot where I'd put my glasses so I spent the rest of my labour (36 hrs) unable to see properly! Made me feel really disorientated in hindsight. Next time I'll probably just stick with my glasses. and waterproof mascara

Dillydollydaydream · 23/02/2013 09:49

Dc 1&2 were middle of the night labours so my 'eyes' were out already so just popped glasses on, dc3 was afternoon/eve and it didn't occur to me to remove them and my eyes were fine.

fuckwittery · 23/02/2013 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rainand · 23/02/2013 10:04

Thanks OP! This thread helped me too .. :) Forgot all about how I was planning to manage contact lenses ...

HazleNutt · 23/02/2013 10:11

I would just get a pair of extended wear ones or TruEye (daily silicon hydrogel) would work too.

Yamyoid · 23/02/2013 10:20

With my first I wore my glasses all the way through labour. However, I remember that towards the end they were really bugging me - I didn't like the feeling of them on - so I took them off and couldn't see a thing when ds was born.
So when I went into labour with dc2 I decided to keep my contacts in. It was a short and straightforward labour so that was fine.
You could keep them in and see how things progress. Just make sure you have your glasses nearby. What about buying a couple of pairs if daily disposables to have in your hospital bag?

Fairlygrounded · 23/02/2013 10:23

I had a section and was allowed to keep my lenses in.

OddFrog · 23/02/2013 10:48

Take some hydrating eye drops to keep comfortable. I kept mine in throughout both DSs births, 1 csection and 1 home birth. No problem either time, the happy tears on meeting baby lubricated the lenses nicely!

rainand · 23/02/2013 11:46

The long wear contact lenses (can wear for a week/month) are probably worth getting for labour and post-labour.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 23/02/2013 11:47

Daily disposables, kept them in the whole time

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