What did your OB say?

Kyla Sisco

I was talking with the nurses at the hospital that I am delivering when I went for a tour of the facility and the nurses told me "By the way you should really get your acrylic nails taken off" Something to do with if you are losing oxygen and things like that, that is how they tell -- by your nails.

I told my OB and she said if I want to keep my nails it doesn't matter, that it's a myth. Anyone else have two different sources tell you different things.

sherron83

Hopefully they can tell your not getting oxygen when you are turning blue..... Just a thought.

The_Jen626

People will ALWAYS tell you random stuff like that...ignore them!!!

Kyla Sisco

sherron83:

Hopefully they can tell your not getting oxygen when you are turning blue..... Just a thought.

That's what I thought. I asked "Don't you guys have machines that I am hooked up to that tell you that?"

Annie_1208

You can still see your nail beds through the acrylic nails.   I can see mine when I get a french manicure.   Plus they have that thing they put over your finger to detect the oxygen level in your blood.  

I mean there are more signs than your nails.  

kjlrs

I've heard that before (including nail polish in general) but never from a credible source. I wouldn't worry about it at all. You're being monitored by so many machines - maybe in the old days they watched your nails but I'm pretty sure your BP, heart rate, etc take precedence in this day and age.

djdavis

That is a way to tell, but I wouldnt necessarily take them off. There are other ways to tell.

MrsL.inMarch

Uh actually they usually monitor oxygen levels by placing a little monitor over your index finger, especially if you end up going for a c-section. Fake nails and/or nailpolish could impede proper readings.

Waterthrush

I would imagine if it really had to do with anything, it would be the fit of the finger reader. Of course, I'm not the best person to ask. I saw an OB at my OB's practice and he was worried about me being anemic (I was really pale from throwing up three times the day before). I looked at my nails and told him "okay, but I think I'm fine." He rolled his eyes at me. My level turned out to be really good.

Roothie427

I have heard this many times but all the creditable sources tell me that the nails make no difference.

The finger sensor is using the skin on the tip of your finger to get a reading so the nail does not affect the reading.

 

californiaclaire

kjlrs:

I've heard that before (including nail polish in general) but never from a credible source. I wouldn't worry about it at all. You're being monitored by so many machines - maybe in the old days they watched your nails but I'm pretty sure your BP, heart rate, etc take precedence in this day and age.

 Agreed. I went to a doctor's appointment before with really dark nail polish on and they weren't able to get a read on my blood oxygenation through the finger monitor they put on me because the nail polish was too opaque. BUT... I'm sure you'll be hooked up to plenty of other monitors that will let them know if there is a problem. I woudln't worry.

Mrs.B07

I am a Tech (nurses aide/***) at a hospital, they would prefer if you didnt have acrylic nails or dark nail polish because they may not get an accurate oxygen saturation reading (more so with the dark nail polish)...but if there is a problem and/or they are not getting an accurate reading they should have nail polish remover on hand and/or they can use your ear lobe or a toe for a reading, I dont see how it would be a big deal, leave them on if that is what you prefer.

JDarden

The nurse at my oral surgeon's office told me that when I got all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled earlier this year... they said they would not be able to monitor my pulse through my finger....

The day of the surgery... the only thing my doctor did was remove my nail polish..and they hooked me up to the monitor.  I didn't have to take my acrylic nails off...

Plus I have a friend that has had her nails on for years and did not take them off when she gave birth.