It is safe to have gel nails while you're pregnant, so long as you're careful about having them applied and removed. Bear in mind that if you're booked in for a planned caesarean section, your doctor or midwife will ask you to remove gel nails in advance.
On arrival to the hospital on the day of your operation
You will be seen by an anaesthetist on the ward before your operation. Please ensure that you are not wearing any jewellery, make up, nail polish or fake nails (including shellac or acrylics) on admission.
Your midwife will ask you to remove any make-up, nail polish, piercings or contact lenses before your c-section. You will also need to take off any jewellery. You can usually wear one plain ring, such as a wedding ring, which will be taped in place.
Remove jewellery, makeup and false nails
Remove all jewellery and piercings. You can keep on your wedding ring, if you have one. Do not wear any makeup and remove false nails.
Yes, acrylic nails and gel nail polish need to be removed too. If you're trying to protect a recent manicure, you are welcome to remove only the acrylics or polish from your two index (pointer) fingers—this is where we most commonly clip the oximeter probes.
Current policy prohibiting the use of methyl acrylate (UV hardened) gel nails may be based on the concern that as nails grow out, this creates a crack in the subungual space that may reduce the effectiveness of hand hygiene and pose an infection risk for patients.
Surgical scrubbing prior to surgery reduces the number of bacteria on the skin, but wearing rings and nail polish on the fingers may reduce the efficacy of scrubbing, as bacteria may remain in microscopic imperfections of nail polish and on the skin beneath rings.
Do not wear nail varnish or gel nails. Your healthcare team will monitor your fingernails during the birth. This helps check your oxygen levels and your circulation.
The Night Before Your C-section
You will not be allowed to eat, drink or smoke after midnight. This includes candy, gum and water. Try to get a good night's sleep. You may brush your teeth in the morning.
Can I wear acrylic nails or nail polish into surgery? During surgery, your oxygen levels will be monitored and one of the most common ways of doing this is using a probe placed on your finger. Nail polish and acrylic nails can interfere with this, so you may be asked to remove the polish or acrylics before you arrive.
Do not wear makeup, nail polish or jewelry. Remove any body/tongue piercings. If you wear contacts, please wear your glasses and bring your contacts and supplies along. DO NOT eat for eight hours before your C-section.
For either a vaginal or Caesarean birth, do not shave or wax your abdomen or pubic area for 7 days before your due date or the date of your Caesarean section. Shaving or waxing before you deliver may increase your risk of infection.
It is safe to have gel nails while you're pregnant, so long as you're careful about having them applied and removed. Bear in mind that if you're booked in for a planned caesarean section, your doctor or midwife will ask you to remove gel nails in advance.
All nail polish should be removed prior to surgery, including polish on toenails. Patients with long hair should not wear metal hair pins or barrettes. Be sure to remember cases for contacts, glasses or hearing aids.
What is the Golden Hour? After the birth of the baby, both vaginal and c-section birth, the Golden hour consists of uninterrupted and immediate skin to skin contact, limited interventions that are not necessary, if possible and desired having delayed cord clamping, and having the first feeding of baby completed.
It's important to get out of bed and walk around within 24 hours after surgery. This can help ease gas pains, help you have a bowel movement, and prevent blood clots.
Under most circumstances, undergoing a c-section via Spinal Anesthesia or Epidural Anesthesia (rather than General Anesthesia) is preferred since it involves less risk and has the advantage of allowing you to be awake during your baby's birth.
Do not apply hair products, deodorants, lotions, or fragrances. Dress in clean clothes and come to the hospital as planned. C-section. 8 hours before your C-section, drink 8 ounces of apple juice.
Your stomach must be empty for surgery. We do not want food from your stomach to get into your lungs during surgery. Your surgery will be delayed if you do not or cannot follow these instructions.
The typical C-section takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. After your provider delivers your baby, they'll stitch your uterus and close the incision in your abdomen. Different types of emergencies can arise during a delivery.
It is important to remove your nail polish so that the doctors and nurses can see your true color during the surgery and in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. The color of the skin and nail beds is an important sign of blood circulation.
The nail bed is one of the best places to detect cyanosis caused by low oxygen levels. This is why acrylic nails, nail polish, solar nails, shellac polish, etc are asked to be removed prior to surgery.
Do you know why you're not allowed them? There is a reason. Oxygen monitor - the fingertip monitor needs a clean nail to monitor oxygenation properly. All surgical procedures specify no nail polish or false nails.