Hair Removal > Do you need to do this before labour?

[HappyNewMum2Be]

I normally have a wax or trim, but since becoming larger, haven't bothered, and then physically couldn't reach. I'm not particularly hairy, but thought about having a trim, but since read lots of posts where people mention being shaved in the hospital. Is this a necessity?

What do you guys all recommend?

Thanks in advance

[SqueakyPop]

Not necessary

[Shitehawk]

I wasn't shaved. Don't think it's done routinely these days.

[RubySlippers]

shaved

really - not in my hospital

anyhoo, i couldn't see/reach my bits and TBH it was the last thing on my mind

however, i do recommend a pedi - hot pink toenails are great to look at once you can see your toes again

[hughjarssss]

Agree with Ruby.

I wouldn't have been able to even if I had wanted to! And, at 9 months, I really didn't want to

[spicemonster]

They shave you with a dry bic if you have a CS so you might want to get your DP to do that for you in advance just in case. Not very comfy IME!

[VanillaPumpkin]

I was 'natural' for both my labours. I truly did not care!

[KnockOffNorbert]

This time I just cut the quiff off... I thought rather hairy than all wonky cut/rash etc! Either you have to spend about 20 mins a day spread eagled infront of a mirror trying your best to work mainly by feel to keep ontop of it, or risk going in with stubble/rash etc, or just leave it.

[Bluebutterfly]

I went for a bikini wax before ds and the beautician was very amused - she said "it will be the last thing anyone cares about when you are in labour". She was right. I didn't even think once about the state of my lady garden the whole time.

One of my friends commented that she never imagined she could be as uninhibited about her body as she became in labour. You literally just don't care, and neither does anyone in the room. Really!

[GreenMonkies]

Totally agree, you won't care about your hairy mary or the spots on your arse or anything else!

Having said that, I did shave my legs in early labour both times, and my toenails were a funky colour both times too!!

(never heard that about toenail polish and the pool either)

[lauraloola]

I attempted to 'trim' when I was in the early stages of labour! Wish I hadnt now as it must have looked awful

[oopsacoconut]

My midwife suggested that I have a trim (she hadn't even looked down there yet ) as it is very messy post birth apparently and the less hair the less effort it takes to clean yourself???? I have kept up the waxing all pg anyway and had one last week - 10 day pre duedate and DH trims all long bits waxing don't get to. I am normally very fussy about hair down there so it's more for me than the midwife!

[spottedandstriped]

I had emergency caesarian and had to be shave - to be honest by the time you get to that stage you really don't care!

[marjean]

I have to agree with oops. I had major dried lochia entanglement following my first birth. Very painful and time consuming to remove. For my second, I didn't wax or anything like that - I never have - but gave myself a quick trim. For practical reasons rather than aesthetic.

[greenlawn]

I had a cs first time round and will never forget the glint in the mw's eye as she came towards me with a dry bic - sadly for her a friend had warned me they shave off the top couple of inches and she looked positively disappointed to see I'd already done it.

Next time round (vb) just made sure it was as tidy as possible - but I would've rather been hairy than have any lumps and rashes etc! I guess the warning is don't try anything new ....

[PortAndLemon]

You'll only get shaved in hospital if you need a c/s

[ForeverOptimistic]

Even when you have a c/s they only trim the bikini line. When the midwife shaved me she didn't even ask me to remove my knickers.

[helips]

I just did a quick trim and still got shaved when I needed a cs!! Wasn't too bad though, think I was out of it by then so didn't really care!

I had a pedicure before the birth and was intending a home water birth, no mention of not being allowed nail polish.

[inni]

better shave completely at home cos in hospital they do it just with water and is a bit sore. You can help yourself with a mirror. But just do it when you are really sure that the labor has started

[MrsTittleMouse]

I wasn't allowed nail polish in the last birthing centre that I used (I went in the pool) and I've been told that the same rules apply for the birthing centre I'll (hopefully) use this time.

I had a bikini wax partly because I knew that my chances of natural labour weren't that good (family history, big baby, bad position). So even though I wanted a natural birth, I had the top inch waxed off to avoid the dry Bic if I did have a CS. It wasn't for the edification of the midwife. I would love to have a Brazilian wax, just to avoid 6 weeks of cleaning clotted blood out of the hair twice a day (sorry ), but I'm not brave enough. Hopefully I won't bleed for so long this time around.

[Nezzi]

I asked my friends about this as they all have children, they all had a good trim before hand just because it's easier to stay clean afterwards what with all the blood etc.
I had my usual "high bikini" wax but the beautician got a bit carried away and gave me a Brazilian The next day I had to go out in a skirt and no knickers to let the air get to my bits LOL! I was paranoid all day that the wind was going to blow my skirt up and I'd be forever embarrassed!!

[HappyNewMum2Be]

thanks for the comments. I think a trim is in order - definately not the brazillian!

the things you thought you would never have to think about.....

[Aitch]

i've read that the thing about nailpolish is that your toes and fingers changing colour can be a sign that things are going awry during a general anaesthetic etc, so it's best not to.