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Original poster

Embarrassing: What is ettiquette re grooming of lady garden?

175 replies

sunnyside · 09/08/2006 15:31

I know I sound bonkers but when it comes to giving birth what sort of state should my lady garden be in?! Don't want to look like I don't pay it any attention like some hairy earth mama but equally don't want to give it full strim and look like I'm prepubescent!!!!

I've asked my friends but basically we all end up screaming laughing and not really getting a straight answer!

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Original poster
sunnyside · 09/08/2006 16:06

I reckon its an age old question! Thought we might be able to form some sort of concensus! Last night on 'How to look good Naked' they mentioned a Brazilian (Landing strip) and a Hollywood (Nowt!) as though that's the norm but it just started me thinking again!!!

OP posts:
Quootiepie · 09/08/2006 16:06

I think having a bush is better than stubble, as I didnt know when I was going into labour, and didnt fancy trying to shave it during labour, i let mine grow. As long as maybe you give it a trim if your like me and get a quiff (sorry if TMI), you'll be ok. They'll sort you out if needs be.

AvaLou · 09/08/2006 16:06

And I am sure most midwifes would care more about getting splattered by blood/ fluid (indeed if they are precious at all) than having to look at an unkempt garden.

ZippiZapata · 09/08/2006 16:09

I think dd2 was more shocked at fighting her way into the world like an armed robber with a pair of tights over her head than landing in an unpruned gooseberry bush

madmarchingforfreedomhare · 09/08/2006 16:09

I didnt actually care when it was all going on but before hand, I have to admit, I did think it would only be polite to neaten up me fanjo. Nothing fancy just a little trim.

Original poster
sunnyside · 09/08/2006 16:10

Yeah maybe I should've asked this more as a general question than here in childbirth segment but knowing it's gonna be out there made me curious!!

LOL at everyone's responses!

OP posts:
Original poster
sunnyside · 09/08/2006 16:11

Zippi Pmsl!

OP posts:
CurrantBun · 09/08/2006 16:16

I'm so glad someone raised this as I have also been worrying about it!

TBH I don't do a mad lot of maintenance 'down there' at the best of times - I Immac away anything that shows around the edges of my knickers and trim the length when it all gets a bit long (have shaved round the edges too but can be uncomfortable when stubble starts to appear).

Was worried about it from a hygiene perspective post-birth, as you apparently bleed quite a lot and quite heavily and of course you can't use tampons. I remember using pads when I first started my periods, all those years ago, and finding congealed blood stuck to my pubes which then ended up floating around in my bath water really upset and disgusted me - switched to tampons pretty quickly and have never been near a pad since!

So now I'm worried about the same thing and the best way of tackling it.

foxinsocks · 09/08/2006 16:18

that does happen currantbun (congealed blood in your pubes) - I suppose if you had no pubes it would still be messy though. Showering is the best way to get rid of all of that.

nogoes · 09/08/2006 16:23

at Fio's post. I just assumed that medical staff don't pay any attention now it has got me wondering....

AvaLou · 09/08/2006 16:30

theres nothing worse than the unexpected exam, I mentioned irregular periods to my doctor when i was there for a throat infection,, next minute I was legs akimbo! Had I knonw, I'd have trimmed, showered and sprinkled glitter on there!

p.s I just posted this on an entirely irrelevant thread my mistake, feling very 'blushy' now.

madmarchingforfreedomhare · 09/08/2006 16:38

I will never not trim again after a nightmare smear ended up with about twelvty folk peering in, one of them being my neighbours sister.

emzickle · 09/08/2006 18:08

Jools Oliver, in her book comments that she had a pre-labour bath (and shave) whilst in the first part of labour... bless her heart... My DH clips mine with his clippers always turns me on rather... nice vibrations and all that

not that I can see to my lady garden any more...

Laura032004 · 09/08/2006 18:35

Haven't read the whole thread, but I had mine waxed in preparation for DS2's birth. I had to have a c/s with DS1, and didn't want to chance them dry shaving me with a disposable bic razor again! The regrowth was worse than the c/s scar!

pol26 · 09/08/2006 19:56

My last mw said it actually is more hygienic with some hair than with none which is why they no longer shave you completely... !

I am now 34 weeks (but measuring 36+) so am seriously wondering what to do about my hairy-mary......

Definately going to trim the top and shave/immac the edges... not too sure how i'm going to see it though as it's near on impossible to even see my feet these days. Might have to entrust DP, if I dare...

Flumpybumpy · 09/08/2006 21:20

Just a thought, but if you did shave it all off, when it grew back and was stubbly surely when you and DH had a bit of 'how's your father' wouldn't you get stuck together like velcro???

Laura032004 · 09/08/2006 21:43

The regrowth after waxing was unnoticeable in comparison to the itchiness and irritation after shaving. We've not had any 'how's your father' to test your velcro theory though Flumpybumpy

Skribble · 09/08/2006 21:55

Just wondered regardless of childbirth do most woman trim shave/ wax the sides in a bit and what length do you trim the main bit to. previously i never bothered doing much at all.

littlepiggie · 09/08/2006 22:05

You well have a job doing anything to it if you cant see what you are doing, dont fancy shaving down there blind. Anyway it will be the last thing you care about at the time.

Original poster
sunnyside · 10/08/2006 13:44

skribble that's what i want to know! what do you reckon?

OP posts:
festiveface · 10/08/2006 13:57

i have never done anything to mine and i thought that was the norm! until i read a few things on here that is !

doggiesayswoof · 10/08/2006 14:14

Pre dd (when I had more spare time!) I used to immac the edges a bit and maybe trim the length. V occasionally though. For some reason I didn't think about it at all pre giving birth - I got dh to shave my legs and paint my toenails for me - I was more bothered about displaying hairy legs than hairy fanny tbh. Midwives/nurses did not stare or anything and I had a student there for most of the time. I think they prob see all sorts and won't be that bothered - do what you want, not what you think is expected! I wouldn't have wanted to deal with itchy regrowth postpartum either. The gunk didn't bother me - washes out easily enough

theinvisiblegirl · 10/08/2006 14:36

Well, as I couldn't see it I didn't really bother with much. Although, with 2nd and 3rd births I did get DH to trim the length off a bit with some nail scissors...didn't trust him with a razor! Found it a bit easier to get cleaned up afterwards when it was all abit shorter

mummydear · 10/08/2006 14:50

Had legs and bikini line done a couple of weeks prior to both due dates . But I normally have waxing anyway.

liquidclocks · 10/08/2006 15:00

OK - I have a question too that's going to make me !

I've tried shaving - made me itch, I've tried 'trimming' - again, made me itch, then I tried waxing and got ingrowing hairs - OW!

so a)is that normal and b) if it is then is this one of those many things we women are supposed to just put up with the discomfort for the sake of looking good? (ie should I just mentally add to the list along with high heels, constant hunger, eyebrow plucking...etc)

Please someone tell me!