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Expectant and Postpartum Moms
No Fingernail polish? Highlighting? Other vanities suspended?
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Anonymous
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Curious if other expectant moms are avoiding these and other "beauty" treatments while pregnant. I did not have my hair highlighted until after the first trimester, but I did use nail polish and everything else. But now as I near my third trimester, I'm starting to get more paranoid about random chemicals. Are others worrying or not?
Also, my doctor's materials discuss highlighting/hair color (suggest wait until after first trimester), but nothing else. Thanks in advance! |
Anonymous
| I love getting my nails done and I get my hair dyed, but since I found out that I am pregnant, I have avoided nail polish and going to the hair salon! I figure I can forego these things until the baby is born. |
Anonymous
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I haven't suspended any "vanities". Got my hair highlighted in my first trimester before I knew I was pregnant, but this is my third pregnancy and I always kept getting my hair done. I actually don't think they have ever said it is a definite no-no (a la smoking, changing kitty litter, etc.).
I'm always surprised to hear people avoid these things, but it really depends on your comfort level. For some, even rumors of there being an possible issue is enough to avoid. I have gray hair, so for me - it just isn't that easy to avoid without really looking horrible. I've never heard anything about avoiding getting your nails done though. |
Anonymous
| My dr's info says to avoid hair coloring treatmens in the 1st trimester, but mani/pedi's and massages are encouraged if they make you feel better. They do warn about massasges in the 1st trimeser and using someone who knows how to deal with pg women. |
Anonymous
| I did mani pedi but did not color my hair |
Anonymous
| I follow the rule of thumb that if it smells bad/strongly of chemicals, avoid it while pregnant. So, I probably wouldn't get a perm, but nail polish is just fine! This rule has the added advantage of also getting you out of painting the nursery! |
Anonymous
| I was not worried about nail polish (as I only wear clear), but the fluorescent lighting in most nail salons is very harsh and therefore worrisome. I avoided professional manicures during pregnancy for that reason. |
Anonymous
Ah, very good observation - thank you! I have been quite worried about the chairs in nail salons - there have been several studies that seem to indicate that massage chairs might be dangerous to a small minority of pregnant women. I am avoiding all nail salons for this reason. My hands and feet are not looking very good after eight months, but it's all worth it. |
Anonymous
| fluorescent lighting? what is the problem with that? |
Anonymous
Are you talking about the massage chairs that you sit in during a pedi? why are they dangeous? Do you mean the massaage part, if you turn them on? If so, then just don't turn the massage part of the chair on. I've always been able to choose whether or not I want the massage element of the chair on or off. If this isn't what you mean can you explain? I am planning on getting a pedi/mani soon for our maternity photos next weekend and I also planned to get one right before my due date. Is there something I'm missing? I don't get pedi's on a regular basis, but with pg#1, it made me feel a little prettier to have pretty toes to look at while in labor and after the birth. I have a weird thing about not liking my feet or people looking at my feet. The nurses commented on my pretty toes and it made me smile! |
Anonymous
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I'm the OP and appreciate the responses. I think the massage chair issue would be due to the movement (?), but like you said - easy enough to turn off the chair.
My question about fingernail polish is because they have pthalates in them, which is a family of chemicals with a strong body of science suggesting they are bad for developing fetuses and babies. (Too long to explain, but you can Google if you are interested.) Most of those studies deal with "mouthing" issues - like where babies are sucking on plastic toys containing pthalates. In fact, the State of CA has banned pthalates from kids' toys. But there is obviously less worry about fingernail polish on mom's nails affecting a baby in the womb. Still, maybe it's a "lack of control" thing as I enter my third trimester, but I still am getting more paranoid about stuff like this ... even though the first trimester is when it really mattered most. I am definitely getting my hair highlighted and my nails and toes done just before the baby comes -- who knows when I'll be able to after that! But I've decided I won't between now and then. Definitely get a mani/pedi before your pictures, though - that sounds like a good exception! |
Anonymous
| I've heard high/low-lighting is ok because it doesn't penetrate into your scalp like all-over color does. My doctor said as long as the place was well ventilated it was fine...and the same went for manis/pedis. |
Anonymous
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my doctor seemed to think these things were ok. the two caveats mentioned:
- your hair may not take to color/perm/chemicals the same way as when you are not pregnant so you could end up with a totally different color than what you were expecting - make sure you go to a clean salon that sanitizes their tools, etc. you don't want to end up with a bad infection that you'll have to take antibiotics for. (this is something i worry about irrespective of pregnancy, but i've noticed in DC people don't seem to be as vigilant about this.) |
Anonymous
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Aren't there nail polishes without all the nasty stuff that you can buy at Whole Foods, etc? They probably don't stay on as well, but I bet they're out there if you look.
For my hands, I like to use the Seacret (sp?) nail care that they sell from those carts at malls--basically a special buffer that makes your unpolish nails so shiny it looks like you've got clear polish on. |