ELCS and shaving

[bluechameleon]

The leaflet I got about my ELCS says I should shave beforehand, but doesn't specify how much. Surely they don't need everything off, just the top bit? I'm pretty certain they didn't fully shave me for my EMCS for DS. I don't really fancy dealing with itchy regrowth whilst recovering from surgery and looking after a newborn. Then again, if that's what is expected I'd rather do it myself than have someone do it at the hospital!

With mine it was just the top inch and they did it for you in theatre. If you haven't taken quite enough I imagine they'll ask if they can shave another little bit before they start

It's just about an inch at the top

If you don't do it yourself, they'll shave you with cheap disposable razors 😬

Whatever you do not nick yourself! I’ve seen elective surgeries cancelled over cuts and scraps as it increases the possibility of infection.

I knew I was having a section with DD so had a bikini wax about 3 days before which included an inch off the top. No way was I going to let them at me with a razor!

With mine, it said not to shave at all due to the risk on infection!

I just trimmed it with scissors before mine and they didn’t shave any off while I was there as far as I can remember!

They did it for me ahead of going down to theatre for both my ELCS. There was no cheap disposable razor!

I was told to shave before I went in. I have to confess, there was no way I could have physically done it myself, and I just couldn't bring myself to ask DH to do it, so I got them to do it when I arrived on the ward. The midwife was slightly arsey about it, but by that point I was so fed up, I gave no shits whatsoever.

Like a PP said, it's about an inch lower than your natural hairline, but if you don't do it, they'll have clippers on the ward for the EMCSs.

Great, thanks. I wish they made the leaflet clearer.

You just need to remove hair from the area where they may stick a dressing. No need for anything behind that.

Same rationale for asking men are to shave chests before thoracic surgery.

I had an emergency section after being in hospital for a month so definitely hadn't shaved anything! I guess they did it whilst they were operating or not at all?