Contact lenses and pushing

[Mary Jo]

I saw a mw today for my 36-week appt and she asked if I wear contacts, which I do. She said I should take them out in labour, at least for pushing, but couldn't say why. I never heard of this before, and I definitely wore mine when I pushed Adam out, with no apparent consequences.

Anyone else been told this?

 

[amerikiwi]

Never heard that--I wore them when I had my daughter with no problems. A bit weird that she didn't give you a reason.

 

[Hunbun]

Yeah I wore mine as well with no problem.

 

[Kimmi82]

oo-er, ive never heard of this before! if she told you not to you think she'd know why!!

 

[ttcnewbie123]

That is weird, I want to be able to see while im in labour!

 

[Mary Jo]

me too! I would have trouble seeing my baby with no contacts in. haven't had new glasses since 1999, so they're pretty useless as well.

she said something about pressure in the eyeball, but I found it odd nobody ever mentioned it or asked me if I had contacts in before. she actually suggested I ask an opthalmologist, which I found weird. surely if you're informing someone of something not to do, you should know the reasoning yourself?

after a bit of googling the only thing I've found is where some people have been told not to wear them in case of an emergency c-section. can't see why it would matter with modern soft disposable lenses. I'm not supposed to sleep in mine but I have, very occasionally, without problems. and if they had to take them out and throw them away I'd hardly be suing for the loss of one set of contacts. I guess if they were very expensive, but then maybe I'd choose not to wear them anyway? perhaps it's a comfort thing, in which case I say I'll be the judge of whether or no I am ok with them!

 

[Eternal]

Thats stupid, i wore them with my son's labour.

I have had to take mine out when ive had a general, and most of the time i wear them to tharetre and take them out there.

But i cant see any reason why you cant wear lenses in labour, whats it going to affect? Perhaps the really old fashioned hard ones i can understand, but soft lenses wont do a thing.

I never took mine out and i would refuse if asked, i would feel very vunrable not being able to see properly plus i wouldnt see my twins. Theatre, maybe if they said too, i remember at one point you couldnt wear contacts in tharetre (even as staff) but fairly sure thats not the case now, but as for pushing and a delivery room, def nonsense.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I wore them when I gave birth to Ruby! Sounds a bit odd to me.

 

[Kel127]

I also wore my contacts when I gave birth to Connor. I don't see why it would be a problem.

 

[LouLou78]

Aye never heard that one before and I am a midwife hehehe and I gave birth to all three of mine with my contacts in as does many women.

 

[cranberry987]

what a stupid thing to say, honestly some midwifes say some utter bullshit (im sure some are great but mine seems to just make random shit up and when she cant think of a stupid enough answer tells me to google it).

 

[tristansmum]

you can have issues with contact during pregnancy so maybe she's gotten confused. basically i couldn't see well through mine during pregnancy and had to wear glasses. the opthamologist (sp) told me your eye balls can change shape due to increased fluid in your body and therefore your eyes. maybe thats what she heard but got confused!

 

[Mary Jo]

yeah, I did know about that - in fact I happened to go and see an opthalmologist just this Saturday (before I saw this midwife) because I need more contact lenses as I am down to only 1 spare pair, and he said I should come back after I have the baby, in case my sight has changed slightly, and presumably will then change back, else why not test me and give me the new prescription.

I saw another midwife today but forgot to ask her opinion, but since nobody here has heard this, and certainly it's the first I have heard, and I'm almost through with my 2nd pregnancy, I don't feel bad about completely disregarding what she said.

 

[Tampa]

Hi, I can shed some light on this.
I'm an optometrist (ie the person who does the eye test not an ophthalmologist who is the eye specialist doctor in a hospital setting).
I think this only applies to women using rigid gas permeable lenses (the wee hard ones), not more modern soft ones. I've a patient who 15 years ago wore her RGPs when labouring with her son, due to the squeezing and long time they were in her eyes, the lenses squashed her cornea, prevented oxygen transmission to her eyes, and permanently caused a vision defect.
With soft lenses I'm sure it should be ok unless a section/medical procedure is required. Obviously then hygiene is a factor for contact lens wear in general.

Hope that helps!

 

[Mary Jo]

thanks for the explanation! I really was confused about it, couldn't understand what the problem would be with soft lenses. but it makes a lot of sense that more rigid ones mightn't be a good idea.

good to know I can keep on wearing mine as long as *I* want to. I'd have been so upset if someone made me take them out when I was ok last time!

 

[keyahopes]

Thanks for this! I can't see a thing without my lenses. So if the nurse goes "here's your baby", i'll basically have to say "where where?" without my lenses.

 

[Sun_Flower]

I asked midwives on the labour ward when I went for a tour the other day, as I wear them too - all 3 midwives agreed that it was perfectly fine to wear them during delivery and on the ward, just to remember to bring solution and the pot so I can take them out to sleep etc