Shaving advice welcomed.

msronzio · September 2013

I tried searching this, but it only gave me results from other boards, even though I had S13 selected.

I'm going to be delivering within the next week or week and a half, and I'm wondering if I should shave or not. Reasons I want to -- I've kept up with it for most of the pregnancy and would like to continue to as per personal preference. It's becoming mildly itchy atm but it never gets crazy itchy. I feel like I will be able to take care of myself down there better if I'm healing if I'm not hairy. I also obviously wont even be able to go near there with a razor for a very long time and wanted to shave one last time. Reasons I don't want to -- I'm contemplating how itchy it will be if I'm healing something down there. I only get a tiny bit itchy when I don't shave, so the amount of regular itchiness vs. hair coming back in WHILE healing something like stitches is mainly what I am concerned with. I could play it safe and just not shave and avoid tons and tons of unnecessary itchiness, but it's looking like the pros are outweighing the cons as per personal preference?

What are your recommendations or experiences? lol Should I do a poll?

If you shaved and had to heal a tear, did you notice it was considerably itchier? Or did you not notice at all due to other factors (it being painful, etc.) and I'm just overanalyzing my options?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts

ajbook · September 2013

I shaved on my due date. I was like you and had kept up with it and know it will be quite a while until I do any matenience work down there.

sapphire0228 · September 2013

I went through this debate before I delivered too! I ended up shaving before my induction. But...I ended up with a c section so no advice on the tearing.

Just saying that yes, you're probably over analyzing it but you're not alone

Babybabybabyohhhhhhh · September 2013

I didn't want to shave bc of itchiness. I felt like I would be waaaay more uncomfortable while healing

malisaann · September 2013

I couldn't really reach after about 37 weeks but I did my best blindly shaving after that. I wasn't totally bare when I gave birth and I didn't notice any itchiness from having a little hair down there.

I was able to shave down there again at about 10 days PP with no problem. I had a few minor tears and stitches but shaving didn't interfere with them.

chois · September 2013

I didn't with my first and regretted it. I tore pretty badly and with trying to keep the stitches and just the general area clean after delivery was much harder. This time I didn't shave completely, but trimmed the best I could. I tore again, and so far it's been much nicer than last time. Easier to keep clean and I don't feel as gross. Because I just trimmed I'm not itchy at all either.

msronzio · September 2013

I loved all of your responses because this is really helping me. And thank you for saying I'm not alone!

msronzio · September 2013

Also, since it looks like LO is pretty comfortable in there (update on that coming tomorrow at my midday appointment), it might start to grow back and I'll most likely end up being induced anyway. Idk if that information is helpful or not! But yes, today is my "EDD" since they chose 40wk 3d over 40wks. My hair has become crazycakes since I started taking prenatals. I feel like I need nothing short of a weedwhacker to use down there

kelseyjohnston · September 2013

When I was laboring at home, I took a shower and shaved my bikini line and trimmed my entire "area." I had a 3rd degree tear that afternoon and stitches, I am 2 weeks postpartum and haven't had any crazy itchiness yet!

And I would always get itchy - just like you. I would trim if I were you. It worked great for me.

Mama3+1 · September 2013

I just trimmed and regretted it. I didn't itch but felt less clean because of all the postpartum bleeding and general sweaty hormones.

erink7211 · September 2013

Luckily I trimmed my area before DS made his unexpected appearance. I had two 3rd degree tears and haven't noticed any itchiness- thank goodness! I haven't been brave enough to do anything down there since (15 days PP) but it really isn't that awful...yet.

princessvespa1 · September 2013

I just trimmed it short so that I wouldn't have the itchiness. It worked for me.

happybride 276 · September 2013

I usually get uncomfortably itchy when I go too long without shaving. I did the same debate about what was better and decided to shave a few days before my due date. I delivered the day after my due date with a 2nd degree tear. It will be two weeks on Tuesday pp and I haven't felt even the slightest hint of itch. I say go for it. Oh, btw I found out after the fact that my blind shaving skills aren't as awesome as I thought they were (FWIW).

missmuffin87 · September 2013

I shaved and then had a 2nd degree tear. I was able to keep up with it by carefully shaving around the stitched up area. Wasn't too hard at all.

Skalbrecht · September 2013

I'm a fan of waxing over shaving personally, but I definitely felt cleaner and was easier to clean up I imagine than if there was hair down there.

HeatherMc78 · September 2013

I shaved the night before my induction. I felt it helps to stay cleaner pp.

LBib · September 2013

I was long and hairy for delivery and had a 2nd degree tear. 4 weeks pp and I still haven't done any maintenance. I didn't fell 'unclean' or that I couldn't take care of myself or stitches. I may get a wax when I'm ready to DTD again.

SweetPeaK26 · September 2013

I've always done an electric shave right before delivery. Short, but not to the point where it is gone and will itch when it's growing back in, but short enough that its easy to keep clean

Kristonita12 · September 2013

I shaved the night before my induction, also. I ended up with a section so take my advice fwiw but with all the other annoying feelings going on down there PP, itchiness seems to take a back seat and I haven't noticed it (and normally would!).

TKtravels · September 2013

I gave up shaving weeks prior to delivering, and things got more than just a little overgrown.

I had three small tears but no stitches. I wish I would have shaved or at least trimmed prior to delivery because it's very messy right now, and I feel like all of the excess hair is trapping blood and making me a bigger, stinkier mess than I would be otherwise. And I'm hesitant to be too aggressive in trimming/shaving right now due to the fact that my tears are still healing.

kailet · September 2013

I shaved the night before my induction. I ended up with an episiotomy as well as a tiny tear that didn't need stitches. I feel like it helped me feel cleaner postpartum since I had shaved. I still kept up with it after ward, being careful to avoid the area where I had stitches just to keep things cleaner where I could.

Shaunamae87 · September 2013

Sugar wax just a couple days ago. Love the wax because you never get that itch. Induction tomorrow.. we will see how it turns out.

313Meg · September 2013

I had a big tear and didn't shave... Couldn't see and the last time I did the no see shave, I was super itchy with some irritation.
I wish i would have trimmed... It would make the bleeding and cleaning easier for me.

ammiddleton3 · September 2013

AFwifelife said:
I shaved before my induction and glad I did since I ended up with a C-section. I won't be taking a razor down there for a while because of my incision line and staple scars. I'm hoping that by 6 weeks PP I'll feel comfortable enough to shave again. I can't imagine what it would look like in 4 weeks if I didn't.

I shaved the night before my induction but also ended in a c-section. Glad I shaved!

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