Shave, Wax or Natural for birth?

crl145 · September 2015

So I'm a FTM and I'm wondering what to do downstairs when it's nearing the time to have baby. Is it best to have your privates waxed or partially waxed, shaved or partially shaved, or totally natural?

I haven't spoke to my midwife about it because I do feel like it's kind of a weird question. I get super anxious about a bunch of people looking at my privates so I've been super curious what others do.... I wasn't sure if there was a medical advantage to one of them or if it's totally a personal choice...

Any second time moms who can shed some light? Or others who already know what they are doing?... TIA!

ammnam14 · September 2015

I've heard that shaving a day or two in advance can increase the chance of infection. I'm not 100% sure about that though.

I'm a ftm, so if I'm up to shaving I'll shave. If not I won't worry about it, I'm sure they have seen worse lol.

Court11152325 · September 2015

Well if it's any consolation, billions of women gave birth without shaving or waxing for thousands of years. So I think whatever route you go, you'll be fine. I think some have a preference to be more hairless, but I highly doubt there's a medical necessity and if so, the hospital could shave you.

Once I can't reach to shave, if that happens, it'll prob be au natural for me!! Waxing always gives me some kind of infection (ie yeast - yuck).

kanda0820 · September 2015

I'm a second time mom. Went natural with my first.
Trust me, once you are in labor and delivery - you won't care about people looking at your privates.
I'm an extremely private person too and by the time I had my son, I was completely naked.
Doctors, nurses are used to looking at everything.

littleSkittle14 · September 2015

I trimmed it... But I couldn't see what I was doing so I wasn't about to take a razor down there

like pp said, it really doesn't matter and it won't cross your mind when you're in labor!

maiatene · September 2015

Trust me... the last thing the midwife is thinking about is if your choch looks like a beaver or a cue ball lol. And once your in labor the last thing you'll be thinking about is people looking and judging your lady bits... whatever you've been doing stick with that. With my son I said eff that and just let it go but this time I kept up w my waxing appointments bc I felt off with a full bush.

arz1215 · September 2015

It's personal preference.. I plan to continue with my sugaring appointments until birth. During my preparing for child birth class, this question was asked.. The teacher who has been a labor and delivery nurse for quite some time said it doesn't matter. She did, however, mention that being well groomed helps with cleanup immediately after giving birth, but it's totally up to the individual.

amm0512 · September 2015

I had actually scheduled an appointment to get a waxing 3 days before my scheduled c section, but my water broke early. I shaved the day I went into labor. I was 36+6, so big enough to have to shave by feel rather than by sight. I'll shave this whole pregnancy too...hopefully it will be one less worry in case I have another emergency section vice planned.

crl145 · September 2015

I was wondering if shaving or waxing increased the likelihood of infection or something. Good to know that it doesn't really matter. I'm sure once the day comes it will be the last thing I think about, but right now it's just another thing to think about. lol.

sbodman82 · September 2015

I might have my bf help so i dont have to risk cutting myself. He already offered to help shave lol

MyCousinVinny · September 2015

I prefer to be a bit more on the hairless side and did a close shave before both deliveries, even though they were c-sections. I've never waxed and didn't want to potentially have issues from that.

It wasn't so much for looks but more for the postpartum bleeding that came after. I did not want to deal with messy hairy pubes.

reneetsu · September 2015

With my first I went natural towards the end. When I was admitted the nurse I had took a pair of trimmers and trimmed everything up. She said that she prefers to do that so that if I had to have a c-section it was all ready to go. It wasn't hospital policy just her preference. I kinda liked it cause that way I didn't fill like I had a jungle going on down there while everyone was checking baby. This time I will be at a different hospital so no telling what will happen!

Audracity · September 2015

I'm also a FTM, and I'll be trimming. It will probably be the most comfortable after delivery!

laurabwalker · September 2015

I can say from the perspective of being a person that helps mom deliver babies I've never noticed really what women do. There is a lot going on in those moments, and if you're in labour you are so focused, you can forget that people around are seeing your vagina. It's really only out there during pushing

so it's whatever makes you feel more comfortable!

grkgdss00 · September 2015

I like to keep mine shaved and tidy, but at this point i'm barely able to keep up with it! It grows so freakin fast and i'm losing sight of it. If I have time and warning, i'd like to take a shower ahead of time. Come 40w i doubt I will care what it looks like.

willashbaby · September 2015

I highly recommend trimming with a "personal" shaver. I've been doing it my whole pregnancy and will continue it after as opposed to shaving or waxing. You can still get very close to a shave but without any irritation, I have DH do the trickier parts and it's all worked out well so far. I "trim" every week or two. If you decide to go this route powder is your best friend, it makes for a much closer and safer trim. Google for some more tips and you'll be on your way.

rdilts · September 2015

I noticed that when I would shave before I got pregnant right before my period, I would get raiser burn (mostly because I don't like tampons) from the pad rubbing. Right now I am at the point where I would love to shave but I can't really see what I am doing. So I was thinking about waxing, but ouch! Then I decided to try Nair and I will be doing that tonight. I know I am not close enough yet to go into labor, but I plan on continuing doing this if it works out good tonight when I feel out of control

JElizbetty · September 2015

Shaving is already an issue for me, first pregnancy I had no problem reaching down there but now I just can't. I don't remember even caring at that point the first time, when your in labor you just don't care about anything but getting baby out. And the hospital staff has seen it all so I think Ill just leave it alone if its to uncomfortable to reach.

rain0831boww · September 2015

I hope to have a happy medium. I really can't see what I'm doing which is why my trimmer is a life saver. It at least trims things shorter.

EEB88 · September 2015

I feel like I'm barely about to rinse myself thoroughly enough. Shaving has not been a priority. Kudos to you ladies who still do!

Rawr052992 · September 2015

I'll be leaving mine just trimmed, so anything that would show with a thong on, will be gone, but anything up close and personal will be staying. I personally dont want to have incoming hairs spiking me while Im healing after delivery.

Medically, I think the only time anything has to be shaved is during a C-section, and thats only in that one area, its not even all the way down there.

satindawl83 · September 2015

I've waxed for the last 3 years, so I'll keep doing so to maintain. Nothing is worse than a wax after you've gone without for too long.

discohiker · September 2015

Trim.... You don't need any other irritation down there trust me

kepoole · September 2015

I shaved the day before I went in last time and I'll do it again this time. It's totally personal preference, but I prefer not to have a forest growing down there lol!

TomekiaB · September 2015

I am guessing trimming will make the post labor discharge less painful...you don't want it long enough that it is hard to clean when you are using pads and squirt bottles would be my guess.

Jess0813 · September 2015

I would definitely suggest trimming. I wouldnt go totally natural just because it can get quite messy down there with all the bleeding afterwards and you will be so swollen you wont want to go anywhere near that region with a razor. I also wouldnt totally shave or wax because of irritation.

Gingermom15 · September 2015

I usually just trim with personally grooming clippers and do the sides with a razor in the shower. I am finding it harder to get to it at all so it's getting more natural. Lol. My boyfriend will help trim things up along the pregnancy when I can't see or reach anymore, that's what we will probably do before delivery and that's one of the ways I know he loves

Definitely won't be waxing or close shaving. Never could anyway with my super sensitive skin. When I'm giving birth, I have a feeling I won't be worried about the bush if it's there.

lbaird123 · September 2015

In the off chance that you have to have an emergency c section they will shave you. DRY shave you. So my personal recommendation is go ahead and shave. Have your SO help or use a mirror. C section incision was bad enough I couldn't imagine razor burn on top of that.

BostonBaby1 · September 2015

I am completely lasered so I guess when the time comes for me, there won't be anything to do ;-)

blansaw · September 2015

You won't care at the time, but I want the hair gone. It's the sticky stuff that gets stuck in there afterwards that grosses me out.

ReedBabyMama · September 2015

As of lately I've been trying the feel and shave mention but my husband has offered to help me out before labor as hairless makes me more comfortable. I've waxed plenty of times before but since getting pregnant I've noticed it hurt so much more, therefore, I've stuck to shaving during pregnancy.

xana&bellesmommy · September 2015

I had and emergency c section with my twins at 35 weeks and it was not my first but I hadn't shaved and the nurse shaved me.i just made a joke about it with her and she said she had seen worst

Gingermom15 · September 2015

So, when you have a c-section do they shave the whole thing? Or just the top part? What's the purpose of shaving everything for a c-section? I understand getting hair out of the way for the incision, but if it's regular practice for the nurse to shave every bit then I'm sure as heck bringing my own razor and soap incase a cesarian happens . This girls skin is way to sensitive for those crappy hospital razors and gross soap.

Edited to finish sentence

MyCousinVinny · September 2015

sarahgn said:

So, when you have a c-section do they shave the whole thing? Or just the top part? What's the purpose of shaving everything for a c-section? I understand getting hair out of the way for the incision, but if it's regular practice for the nurse to shave every bit then I'm sure as heck bringing my own razor and soap incase a cesarian happens . This girls skin is way to sensitive for those crappy hospital razors and gross soap. Edited to finish sentence

At risk of being TMI, with mine they shaved the top portion and a little around the inner thigh area and closer to the labia but not further down towards my butt.

From what I was told, they shave not only to get the hair out of the way of the incision but also because bacteria gets trapped in the pubic hair and it's to decrease the risk of possible infection.

Gingermom15 · September 2015

No worries of TMI. I'm a FTM, so it's good information to have. Of course, I plan on doing a vaginal birth but plans change. I'll do whatever it takes to get baby here safe.

TomekiaB · September 2015

@MyCousinVinny since sometimed you need the TMI as a FTM I've heard they typically try to do c-sections bikini friendly now, if possible...so is that low enough to be at or in the hairline to keep the scar hidden?

MyCousinVinny · September 2015

TomekiaB said:

@MyCousinVinny since sometimed you need the TMI as a FTM I've heard they typically try to do c-sections bikini friendly now, if possible...so is that low enough to be at or in the hairline to keep the scar hidden?

Yes, mine is covered when wearing underwear and would be covered if I wore a bikini (which I cannot rock anymore).

SerenaVanDW · September 2015

I was hoping to get a wax but am a little afraid I won't be able to handle it. I've usually waxed but hear it is much more painful KU.

crl145 · September 2015

Glad to hear that medically it doesn't really matter! I'll probably do what most of you suggested and just make sure I'm trimmed in case of a c-section!

All of these answers were way more helpful than looking on Google. I was afraid of what I might find.

Birthinrox · September 2015

I'm a midwife and I can say I don't care what a woman's pubic hair looks like during labor. Just keep it the way you like and don't worry about us!
For csections they use an electric trimmer so no razor burn.

Whovian84 · September 2015

I can't even see my vagina anymore haha. So...I'm embracing the all natural route. Also, I'd be nervous about infection from waxing or shaving too close to the birth.

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