Some people wonder if you can get your nails done during pregnancy since polishes and polish removers contain many chemicals. Most experts agree that manicures and pedicures are safe during pregnancy. If you go to a professional salon with good safety standards, you can enjoy some pampering while you're expecting.
It's safe to get acrylic nails during pregnancy, though you may want to avoid them if your nails are weaker than usual. During pregnancy, you may experience nail changes. Your nails may grow faster and stronger, so it might be really nice to get them done.
MYTH: Manicures, pedicures, and nail polish are unsafe while pregnant. Manicures and pedicures are perfectly safe for both you and your baby!
UV Exposure
Keep in mind that pregnancy can make your skin more sensitive, so you might want to skip the UV-curing altogether and choose a UV-free gel manicure, or another type of polish.
There is no official health guidance on having a manicure during pregnancy. However, it is best to avoid exposure to certain chemicals and ensure the salon has a good standard of hygiene.
Try and avoid gel nails as much as possible, painting your own at home instead or getting a standard manicure. Ask nail technicians not to leave the acetone on for any longer than needed. If you're taking nails off yourself, use cotton pads soaked in acetone instead of dunking your hands in a bowl full of the stuff.
Good news: getting your hair dyed while pregnant is considered safe, especially in the second and third trimesters. Since most hair dyes have little contact with your scalp, the chance of any chemicals reaching your bloodstream, and therefore your baby, is low.
As with all chemicals, unnecessary exposure to acetone in pregnancy should be avoided.
The short answer is yes—it's generally safe to get lash extensions while pregnant.
Some nail polishes may contain formaldehyde, which has been linked to miscarriage and cancer in salon workers and others with high work exposures to the chemical, and toluene, which produces strong fumes that can cause headache and nausea. Phthalates are another concern, as they may harm the endocrine system.
In general, at the low air levels that have been measured in most nail salons, the chemicals are not likely to cause a problem to the pregnancy.
Some pregnant women may choose to completely avoid nail polishes that contain formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, or other chemicals.
In the second and third trimesters, lying on your back may compress a major blood vessel that takes blood to your uterus, making you feel dizzy and possibly reducing blood flow to your fetus. Sleeping on your side during your second and third trimesters may be best.
Working as a hairdresser during pregnancy is not expected to cause any problems that would require extra monitoring of your baby.
Dr. Dayal says that it's safe to go to salons even in the first trimester. She says some mothers who want to avoid all chemicals no matter how safe might want to put off beauty treatments until the second trimester and later.
It's generally safe to get a facial while pregnant—as long as you avoid harsh treatments like microdermabrasion and certain kinds of chemical peels, which can do more harm than good.
While some experts think exposure to nail polish could be harmful to your fetus, there's no clear evidence that the occasional manicure or pedicure is unsafe. The good news is nail polishes by popular brands OPI, Sally Hansen and Essie are 3-free.
Zoya is a favorite of nail salons because of the array of color options, and it's a favorite of ours because it's vegan and non-toxic. There are so many finish options from glitter, metallic, pearl, cream, and more. Some reviewers say this polish may chip easily.
Because a huge part of a dog's brain is devoted to analyzing odors, dogs are able to pick up on different scents resulting from chemical changes, cancer, insulin levels, bombs, drugs, a person's menstrual cycle, and even pregnancy, according to Russ Hartstein, a certified behaviorist and dog trainer in Los Angeles.
The short answer is yes, you can get a tattoo while pregnant. But it isn't risk-free, Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified dermatologist based in New York, told Health.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 mg (about two, six-ounce cups) per day.
Early on in pregnancy, you can sleep on your stomach. Eventually, that position can become uncomfortable. But it's OK to sleep on your stomach if it is comfortable. Lying on your back is not recommended because of pressure on the inferior vena cava.
What about sleeping on your stomach? Sleeping on your stomach is fine in early pregnancy — but sooner or later you'll have to turn over. Generally, sleeping on your stomach is OK until the belly is growing, which is between 16 and 18 weeks.
Zanotti reassures expectant mothers not to stress if they accidentally find themselves on their backs for a brief spell. “We do know that short periods of time ― even if you were on your back for an hour or two ― probably do no harm to your child,” she says.
Background. Many physicians advise pregnant women to sleep on their left side. Previous studies have linked back and right-side sleeping with a higher risk of stillbirth, reduced fetal growth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia, a life-threatening high blood pressure disorder that affects the mother.