Vaginal Topiary -how will you / did you style out your bush for birth

[Flappergirl86]

This is an absolutely ridiculous question but I am sure I'm not the only person who has pondered it: what's the etiquette for pubic hair in labour?

The logical side of me knows that on the day I won't give a flying fuck what I look like down there and the midwives / doctors etc certainly won't but the naïve vain side of me thinks that I want my vagina to look as presentable as possible whilst providing practical access.

God knows I haven't had a razor or wax near there in months and I'm not even sure I could reach at this stage in the game but I don't want to rock up to hospital looking like a cave woman earth mother either.

So what do you/I go for? a neat triangle and shaved undercarriage? Brazilian? Hollywood? a modest all over trim but otherwise as nature intended? Is a 19 year old student midwife gonna feel more awkward about me having a vagina like a modern porn star or a 1960s one?

Answers on a postcard please...and try not to judge me too harshly.

As you say, the Obstetric staff have seen it all and won't give a damn, but on the hygiene front, a bit of an all over trim will make keeping yourself clean amid the increased moistness and bodily fluids would be recommended.

Don't go for the all off, risk of infection increases. Don't go for the full bush so easier to keep clean after. A nice neat trim will do the job.

Wow, when I last gave birth (in 2000) such a dilemma did not occur to me nor my friends. How times have changed in such a short time...

You are right that no one will care :)

However, I like to be "clean shaven" and DH helped me with this from the third trimester right up to the day I went into labour. I know the stuff about infection but think this applies to actally removing the hair, like waxing or epilating?

Same here Molly. I last gave birth in 1997 & I didn't give this a single thought.

OP nobody will notice or care.

Op I had my usual waxing routine going throughout pregnancy, it wasn't a vanity issue just what I've always done.
Like you say nobody will notice. Do what you want.

I was natural pretty sure my legs weren't shaved either.
No one will care how it is fashioned per se.

Most of the midwives I've worked with freely admit that things like an episiotomy and stitches are a bit easier for them if you're reasonably trimmed/tidied, but if you're not it's not a massive problem, nobody will be running in horror from the room if you've got a full on bush.

This wasn't on the agenda when I was having babies, so I went in there in all my pubic glory and didn't have to worry if mine looked prettier/more professionally coiffed than the woman in the next room's.

It is a fact that no medical professional on the earth would be even vaguely interested in your pubes, whether they're complete or otherwise. They're certainly not going to be thinking of pornography through the ages when they get down to delivering the baby.

You might want to brush up on your anatomy... your vagina is about as hairy as your mouth.
This is a non problem.

I only feel comfortable with it all shaved, so that's what I did. I was able to do it myself up until I was 37 weeks, after that I had my husband help me do it.

Can you shave it into the shape of a dummy or something?

I used a depilatory cream before I gave birth and came up in an almighty rash. It paled into insignificance in the grand scheme of things but I could have done without that.

Oooh some varying opinions! Thanks for all of them. Except you Batfurger, I'll remember to refer to my hairy cunt as a labia majora connecting to the pubic mound in future ;)

I reckon I'll go for a blind swish around with a safety razor closer to the time in case I need stitches etc just to make things easier. I do like the thought of a novelty muff though.

I can neither reach nor see my bush.

No way am I pulling any sort of gymnastics in a slippery shower to get a razor around the almighty bump to have a go at it any time soon, and I wouldn't let me partner loose on it with a razor either! So same as the first time round for me - full on seventies look.

Please do not go for a blind swish around.

The risk of infection is NOT just via depilating or waxing, it's also through shaving. Its the reason hospitals no longer shave people unless it's absolutely necessary.

As someone who has assisted at births, it is 100% not a concern and should never be a concern for the expectant mother. I never noticed. When I gave birth myself I did nothing. It was the last thing on my mind tbh.

It is extraordinary to me that people are genuinely worried about this, or that they don't feel clean with pubic hair.

Newsflash: giving birth is grotty, sweaty and messy, and having a bald fanny ain't gonna make you feel fresh.

I continued to have mine all waxed off throughout pregnancy and was bald while birthing. Just what I do, each to their own!

Personally I trim all over with a graded shaver so it's just neat and easier to clean. I'll keep doing the same over the next few weeks but will probably have to get DH to help. For me it's not at all what others will think but what makes me comfortable, and also for hygiene. Let's be honest, things do get stuck in long pubes and that makes me feel a bit grim.

It really doesn't matter, but I did give it a very slight trim just so it wouldn't get matted with gunk. It was mainly a practical step.

Don't shave. Not only does it increase the risk of infection, but the itching as it regrows it will drive you mad and you're unlikely to be in a position to easily shave it again any time soon.

I had an emergency c-section and even then they didn't shave the top part. They just stuck the dressing right over it. I was rather worried about removing the dressing, but actually it came off really easily in the bath. No problem! Would have been worse with stubble and broken skin, I'm sure.

I went with a full eighties bush but they shaved me for my stitches and it felt lovely afterwards so now I do it myself sometimes! I always swore I wouldn't but there you go It just feels so nice and soft!

I wasn't embarrassed at all because I was in so much pain. I did see the dr head down there with a machete and a headtorch though...

I can't see or reach, and I'm useless trying to do it looking in the mirror, can't co-ordinate, so they'll get what they get and if they need to stitch, they can do what they need to do. I'd rather not shred myself just now, and as others have said, it's the actual shaving and microcuts that give the infection risk.

And no, my DH isn't going to be asked/ offer. Tough. I'm sure they've seen all sorts

When did the stupid fashion for trimming/shaving pubic hair start? Totally unnecessary IMHO!

Wow, when I last gave birth (in 2000) such a dilemma did not occur to me nor my friends. How times have changed in such a short time...

My friend had her only child in early 2002 and laughs about how she scared the life out of her beautician by going for a full Hollywood a week before her due date.

It's not such a new thing.

Just a modest trim, like pp to stop getting too matted with body fluids!

I find it itchy when hair removed then the next couple weeks when it is growing back. I certainly didnt want to be waxing /shaving to stop the itch in my postnatal period.

All I can think when I see a bald heavily pregnant woman is "how did you physically manage that?" but probably they had help!

purplecoathanger

Why does it have to be fashion? If you RTFT most posters are thinking from a hygiene/cleanliness perspective... as do many people that aren't pregnant yet the Muff Mafia always seem to think it's all about looking good