Question re spray tan when heavily pregnant

[CountessWindyBottom]

I'm due to have an elective section in a couple of days so tomorrow I'm going to a spa for a bit of self indulgence and am planning to have a pregnancy pedicure, a facial and a spray tan. I just had a perfunctory look to make sure a spray tan would be safe for me and baby (I'm 39 weeks) and there are a couple of sites advising against. I was only planning on having one because I looked like a pasty heroin addict after my last CS had I've no hesitation in cancelling but if I can be sure it's safe I shall proceed. Can anyone advise please? Thanks in advance!

Here's the NHS guidance: www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/955.aspx?categoryid=54&subcategoryid=131

Won't the swabbing pre-section wipe off the tan?

I was told not to have a tan before my section. Not that I was going to! Went along with no make up/nail varnish/fake tan.

Thanks ever so much for this, I hadn't seen the NHS guidelines. Pale and interesting it is then!

Could you have just a light upper body spray that will give you a bit of colour?

I don't know about any issues with CS (maybe they need to see your 'true' skin tone, as with nail varnish) but if it's just is a spray tan safe during pg, I know the general advice is avoid but as I understand it that is because they don't have enough evidence to be sure it is safe, rather than knowing it can cause problems. So for me personally, one spray tan (much like one glass of wine), doesn't feel too risky! You have to judge how you feel about the risk vs how much better a bit of colour will make you feel. You could always just apply facial tanner once baby arrives though, TBH a tan will make little difference to the state of your body immediately post birth .

The issue seems to feel with spray tans/tanning booths rather than fake tan per se. I have a self tan from Lancôme that I've used throughout pregnancy so I'll use a little bit of that methinks......first world problems!