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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave my lady garden au naturelle

55 replies

NotLongNow2018 · 08/10/2018 07:49

I'm expecting my first baby in the next couple of weeks. I know midwives see mothers to be the all manner of positions and states of grooming but I'm wondering what people did in terms of self maintenance in those final days? I've left my.bush alone for a while and tbh can barely see/reach it to do anything myself but worried if I go into a salon to get it waxed it'll be super sensitive (front and back!) Is this something I need to worry about or should I just go for it in my natural state? Or have I got far more important things to worry about on the day than the state of my foof?!

OP posts:
trinitybleu · 08/10/2018 07:50

Leave well alone and enjoy your last days.

MemoryOfSleep · 08/10/2018 07:51

Go for it as is. They advise you not to trim or wax because of infection risk. Also, with all the indignities of childbirth, public hair is the least of your worries, trust me!

AnotherPidgey · 08/10/2018 07:52

You won't be thinking about it on the day!

HCPs will have seen everything.

If there's an EMCS and your hairline is in the way, a disposable razor will be deployed anyway.

speakout · 08/10/2018 07:52

You will not care.
The midwives will not care.
Leave alone.

firstevernamechange · 08/10/2018 07:53

Nobody will care if you have hair on your vulva or not.
They're there to do a job and pubic hair is part of that job.
Do what makes you comfortable.

ShatnersBassoon · 08/10/2018 07:53

Or have I got far more important things to worry about on the day than the state of my foof?!

No. Your pubic hairdressing is what everyone will be focused on.

Lethaldrizzle · 08/10/2018 07:55

Never changed a thing for midwives. They'll be seeing alot more than hairy fannies.

Jozen · 08/10/2018 07:56

You do as you choose and feel comfortable with.
As a health care professional of over 20 years I have seen full bush, trimmed bush, patterned, bald, vajazzled, bedazzled, pierced, tattooed, you name it.
It's a body part like any other, they will have seen everything before, please don't worry! Smile

DeadGood · 08/10/2018 07:56

Don’t even think about doing anything to your lady parts.
Do consider a cut for the hair on your head, as it may be a while before you have the chance again.

GreenLantern53 · 08/10/2018 07:57

i cant quite believe people wax just to give birth. its so weird imo. i left mine alone. although it wasnt fun when the mw shaved it for my emcs Hmm

Whatsallthisaboutthen · 08/10/2018 07:59

Honestly, why would a midwife care? Humans have pubic hair. You’re fine 😉

PhilODox · 08/10/2018 08:01

They don't shave people for sections any more. I've had two, wasn't shaved at all. How long ago was yours?

Bbbbbbbb2017 · 08/10/2018 08:01

Lets put it this way.. i had a planned section booked so once I got to that point at about 32 weeks I decided to just shave legs pits and garden the night before the section. Obviously the baby had other ideas so several midwives doctors etc all got to see my unshaven for 6 weeks inc legs body. Luckily it was the least of my concerns so who knows if anyone raised an eyebrow 😂

MrsStrowman · 08/10/2018 08:09

SIL has just been told to shave/trim by her consultant prior to her planned c section.
I'm trimming very sporadically because it's hard to reach, but if I just let it go it's literally like a giant sasquatch trying to escape down my thighs and I get sweaty. Sorry TMI...

Thatstheendofmytether · 08/10/2018 08:12

When I was at college doing beauty therapy (a long time ago now) we were advised never to wax a pregnant woman. Has that changed now?

BertrandRussell · 08/10/2018 08:13

In the 1970s women campaigned successfully to stop the practice of automatically shaving your pubic hair when you were admitted to the Labour Ward. It's heartbreaking that in 2018 women are worrying about midwives seeing their unmodified bodies.......

oohyoudevilyou · 08/10/2018 08:16

Think we should start a "Bring Back The Bush" campaign, not just for preggers women, but all of us! FWIW I don't shave - well, not apart from a few stragglers around swimsuit area, and have never had any complaints.

Botanicbaby · 08/10/2018 08:20

OP - I suggest you read your last sentence again. You’ve answered your own question as I expect, deep down, you know what the answer is.

Otherwise it’s just so sad that a pregnant woman would a) worry about this non-issue and b) post the question in AIBU of all places.

Theweasleytwins · 08/10/2018 08:22

I was shaved at the top for my section 2 1/2 years ago

Told not to shave before hand at risk of ingrown hairs etc

Beamur · 08/10/2018 08:22

Leave it. Will be fine.

GucciKnickers · 08/10/2018 08:23

You will not care.The midwives will not care. Leave alone.''

This ^.

Good luck op!

fessmess · 08/10/2018 08:24

Is this really such a thing now that women about to birth their baby, the most wonderful and beautiful event they're likely to experience, are worrying about body hair? 20 years ago, when I had mine, all we worried about was would our babies be ok.

BikeRunSki · 08/10/2018 08:28

The only time my bush has ever been shaved was for my emcs 10 years ago. It may have been for the crash emcs 7 years ago - probably, but I was unconscious by then - they used the same scar line anyway.

Nutkins24 · 08/10/2018 08:33

Leave well alone. I recently had a conversation with my midwife about pubic hair whilst she was stitching me up! It was quite funny. Her view was that it was nice to see a natural state. She said so many women come in and feel they need to apologise for not having ‘groomed’ whilst pregnant but midwives and docs really really couldn’t give a shit seeing that they look at genitals all day every day. I mean you will most likely poo yourself in labour, a bit of hair really is the least of your worries if your going to feel embarrassed (you won’t care).

Justanewname · 08/10/2018 08:35

I don’t think I’d quite describe labour as the most beautiful and wonderful experience I’ve ever had @fessmess but equally wasn’t bothered about the state of my pubic hair.

I believe the evidence suggests that trimmed but not shaved is best for reducing the risk of infections post delivery though.