If you are or have ever been pregnant, then you know ordinary tasks can become ridiculously difficult. You long for the days of falling asleep on your stomach, and tying your shoes can feel like an Olympic sport. For me, it was a challenge to feel pretty and confident when my stomach was the size of a watermelon. That's why I relished in the rare opportunity to pamper myself during pregnancy. But you might be wondering how to paint your toenails when pregnant because, you know, physics. As it turns out, it can be done — albeit carefully.
On a side note, any time you're pondering coming in contact with chemical products, it's a good idea to check with your doctor about possible health concerns. As Dr. Richard H. Schwartz told Parents, "it's unlikely that brief exposure from polishing your nails will pose a risk to your baby or you." If you want to take additional precautions during your DIY pedicure, the medical experts at the Baby Center recommended that pregnant women should use acetone-free nail polish remover. Now that you've got the heath and safety part out of the way, it's on to the adventure that is painting your toenails while pregnant.
1Prep Your Work Station
Just like a chef wouldn't begin cooking unless their counter was clear and their knives were sharp, you should prepare the area where you'll be polishing your little piggies. Though I was tempted to just plop my sausage link of a leg on the bathroom counter, the hard surfaces and my lack of coordination seemed like an accident waiting to happen. So you might want to set up your somewhere that is free of pointy edges, unforgiving tile floors, and a mirror that will undoubtedly taunt you.
2Pace Yourself
This isn't a race. Sure, before you were pregnant you could have showered, shaved, and lacquered your nails in the time it now takes you to put on real pants. But pushing yourself for the sake of beauty is never a good idea. If you feel yourself getting light-headed or your back gets sore, take a break and congratulate yourself for making it this far without incident.
3Don't Cry
I know, you're probably thinking, "what does crying have to do with painting my nails?" Well, when you're pregnant, crying has everything to do with it. Actually, crying occurs with ridiculous frequency. Anything from those adoptive puppy commercials to a lack of chocolate in the house is a legitimate reason to let the floodgates open. So even though you'll want to cry out of frustration, desperation, or excessive perspiration, tears just make it harder to see where your toes are hiding beyond your stomach.
4Use Tape
Throughout your pregnancy, you'll have learned a million different ways to MacGyver yourself out of many difficult situations. Using tape to create a barrier between your nail and skin is a must if you want to avoid removing, smudging, and repainting your toes.
5Let Go Of Perfection
In a way, pregnancy is a great dry run for parenthood. You learn to lower your expectations, be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and keep going even when things don't follow your plan. The same goes for painting your toenails when pregnant. Unless you're a Cirque du Soleil performer, you need to go ahead and be OK with the fact that your pedicure probably won't look perfect applied.
6Play It Off
Whether you just couldn't get the right angle or you forgot because of baby brain, accidents happen. When in doubt, play off any mistake like you did it on purpose. Bonus points if you can convince the other person they're just out of the loop.
7Ask For Help
If you're only two toes in and you're already sweating in places you didn't even know existed, it might be time to call for backup. Whether you book an appointment at the salon or you pleasantly remind your partner you're creating a human inside of you and could you a little assistance, treat yourself to the ultimate luxury of having someone else paint your toes.
