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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

This has been bothering me so I'm going to ask...

42 replies

bigredtractor · 22/07/2010 13:50

I'm expecting my 1st baby in October and something has been preying on my mind...

When you go into labour and eventually head to the hospital, should you have 'ahem' tidied yourself up a bit down below? You know, had a trim? Or a wax?

Do they shave your bits before you give birth and if so, is it better to do it yourself beforehand?!

There - I've asked..!!

OP posts:

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thumbwitch · 22/07/2010 13:52

Blimey - last thing on my mind! I couldn't have reached if I'd tried by the end. And I don't do waxing of that area. Too much trauma. Plus your skin would be in a delicate state at that point

I don't think they routinely shave you, I certainly wasn't (induced but natural birth)

EasilyConfusedIndith · 22/07/2010 13:54

They don't shave you and you really don't need to do anything, you won't be able to see round your bump anyway so unless you fancy asking your dp to give you a trim just leave it

Jackstini · 22/07/2010 13:55

You won't be the first or last to ask this on MN!
I tidied myself up a bit; ended up having emcs so they just shaved the very top where they were cutting. They would not usually shave you now for a natural birth.
I reckon MW have seen every 'hairstyle' imaginable so whatever you feel comfortable with.
Congrats btw!

Original poster

bigredtractor · 22/07/2010 14:05

Thanks - I might go for a spiked mohican, or a 'Kojak'...

OP posts:

TarkaLiotta · 22/07/2010 14:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HelenaCC · 22/07/2010 14:28

hmmm - my plan was to book in a wax at 38 or 39 weeks. Im a regular and Im going as I reckon it will be ages before I can get back to the beauticians and I dont want to be a hairy legged mama, the bikini thing is less of a concern for me. No issues with strech marks and waxing in pg so far and am 35+3. It does mean there are some parts that are to inaccessible to reach as you cant manoevre as easily on the waxing table.

LittleSilver · 22/07/2010 19:34

DD2 I had a full wax . My birth partner knew this and suddenly sqeaked as I was pushing, "Let me see the ladygarden wax!!"

DD3 I booked one and for some reason it was so much more painful than the first time round that I actually asked the lady to stop it..; did regret that though!

Cashew · 22/07/2010 19:45

Same as TarkaLoitta -I also got my DH to 'give me a trim' with his clippers before DS, for the same reasons! It was quite funny really! I keep meaning to get him to do the same this time round but seeing as I'm 40+4 I guess time is running out!!

LolaKnickers · 22/07/2010 19:48

Depends how conscious you are of all things in that area! Personally, it wouldn't cross my mind NOT to have the full works.

Plus if you end up having a C-section, they will dry shave you with a bic, so could be best to do a little preparation.

gingerkirsty · 22/07/2010 19:54

Hilariously I did give myself a trim around my due date - couldn't see what i was doing obviously but hoped for the best. I then straightened my fringe (I am referring to head hair here) before going into hospital after labouring for 45 hours at home! God only knows why I thought anyone would care what either my fringe or my minge looked like (sorry couldn't resist the rhyme) as quite frankly they have to look at far nastier things than a bit of errant hair!

Good luck with your baby

bounty007 · 22/07/2010 20:01

My mum told me that on arrival in hospital she was shaved for the birth ie while having contractions for normal birth...
so went home with a sore fanjo
& tweed jacket lol...thankfully that was over 30 years ago

SpringHeeledJack · 22/07/2010 20:06

I was warned to shave off the top arf of my minge myself- which I duly did

apparently if you need a section a Hattie Jaques type sister comes at you with a rusty 10 year old bic

[ouch]

Mercedes519 · 22/07/2010 20:13

Jack it was a NEW Bic but she did do it dry. Didn't hurt then but OMG when the hair grew back. The itching was worse than the major abdominal surgery I swear.

Would definitely recommend hair removing cream as a pre-emptive thing against section - you need about the top inch off.

But I do have to say its the least of your thoughts and by the time you've had it you have shown your fanjo to soooooo many people you have no dignity left - tidy hair or not .

StarExpat · 22/07/2010 20:19

I've never seen the midwife after ds birth, so I can't see what the purpose would have been. Also once things got bloody after episiotomy I forbid dh from looking there until they said ds was visible -at that point he only noticed ds nothing more.

PartialToACupOfMilo · 22/07/2010 20:21

I kept on meaning to get a wax as I was also quite conscious of the fact that things had got a little overgrown down there, but baby came a bit earlier than expected and so I never got round to it.

And in the end it didn't matter a jot - I had my baby at home and walked up and down the hall between bedroom and bathroom totally naked and the state of any part of my body didn't even enter my mind.

pozzling · 22/07/2010 20:27

I think basically do whatever makes you feel comfortable. The mws will have seen it all, but you might feel happier having people look at your bits if you know they are tidy! Personally, I went 'au naturel' and it was the last thing on my mind at the time!

Shaz10 · 22/07/2010 20:28

They dry shaved the top before my section but I didn't feel the regrowth as I was still numb!

Marrow · 22/07/2010 21:13

I had a section but they didn't shave me - now I'm wondering why not!

moonstorm · 22/07/2010 21:15

I was planning on doing nothing.... erm... think I'm in the minority!!!

mawbroon · 22/07/2010 21:42

I had an elective section for ds1 so shaved the top inch and tidied up beforehand (or rather dh did as I couldn't see!)

I had a broken ankle when I had ds2 so the state of my lady garden was the last thing on my mind tbh.

MrsMalcolmTucker · 22/07/2010 21:48

I had an emcs 1st time round, and they just shaved the top inch or so, but tbh I really didn't care one way or the other by then

Had an el cs for 2nd time, and I just tidied up a little myself before I went in.

FessaEst · 22/07/2010 21:48

I kept getting DH to give me a trim when i got too big to do it myself. We used to end up crying with laughter as he is so rubbish at stuff like that. I just had it all cropped quite close and it didn't cuase me any problems with my stiches healing etc. In fairness, once I was in labour, even in the latent phase, all thoughts of what I looked like went out the window and I was baring all to anyone!

MrsGangly · 23/07/2010 11:27

Oooh, I'd not even thought of this. Not sure I want to make my DH do this for me either though.

flootshoot · 23/07/2010 12:27

They shaved the top inch of mine off for my emcs and it NEVER GREW BACK. And I have a bald patch where there was a stretchmark down the middle.

Over here boys....

goodlifemummy · 23/07/2010 14:46

Will definately be attending to it in one way or another, had to shave with a bic in hospital before c-section - never again! DH may come in useful here, but am a little worried he may do it in the shape on an arrow pointing up - he wants me to have a CS, I want a VBAC!!

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