I am wondering, are most people still continuing with intimate hair removal right up until just before giving birth? Or have you just left it?

[BenediktaH]

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I previously shaved my fanjo regularly, but I've been slacking since bump has grown as it's been too much of a hassle to continue with it. I've not done it for over a month. I know babies don't care if their mum has hair there or not (well I assume they don't), but I'm a bit concerned about the reaction from nurses, doctors or other medical staff who might be present when I give birth. Do they care at all if you haven't shaved down below? It might seem a daft question but it's been on my mind. I'm worried about a lot of other things too, but this is definitely on the list.

It shouldn’t be an issue - it certainly wasn’t for me.

For most of millennia, women have given birth in completely natural, untampered with states.

I do remember a thread on here a while back where a well-known poster said her friend was a midwife, and absolutely judged women who didn’t remove their pubic hair, which was pretty mind-blowing, but there you go. I wonder if she’ll pop up on this thread.

To add another perspective- I’m a sexual health nurse and see millions of vulvas and vaginas. The vast vast majority of women have pubic hair especially the younger generation!

This is so great to hear. I grew up in the peak "remove absolutely everything" era and I HATED it but boyfriends expected it. As soon as I hit my thirties I stopped completely and feels so much better. And I never get UTIs any more.

I'd keep it trim just for more practical reasons after birth. But during you really won't give a shit. I'm very shy but at the time I couldn't care less who saw what! 🤣

I remember a time when there was a massive campaign to stop the enforced shaving of women in the labour ward. We won that campaign. And now- 50 years later, women are ashamed of HCPs seeing their pubic hair. It's really, really shit isn't it?

Never bothered shaving.

No one cared. Least of all me.

I've never bothered shaving. I can't see why anyone would give a shit about this.

There is nothing undignified about giving birth. Shame on you for saying so.

Wow I apologise I didn’t mean it like this in the slightest. As someone who was incredibly worried and self conscious about the exact same thing and people looking at me down there, I was just trying to reassure OP that it’s completely forgotten about when you’re in labour and the last of your worries. Did not mean this to come across as nasty.. sorry OP x

Do not apologise - you haven’t said anything wrong.

I have to admit there was a point where mine was so wild it was uncomfortable as when I sat down I was pulling it

So I had a wax. It hurt but I am more comfortable now. That’s personal comfort though not linked to what I think doctors and midwives might ‘expect.’ I think they are a tad more mature!

34 weeks. Can’t even see mine any more! My vagina looks terrifying so there’s no way I’ll ask my oh to do it. Currently guessing with an electric razor, only when it get uncomfortable though!

Then they stopped doing that because they realised they were actively causing infections.

Thank you for this. It would be easy to believe on MN that having pubic hair was unusual these days. Perhaps it's just that those that copy the porn trend are more keen to tell people.

My vagina looks terrifying @Littlegoth i assume you mean your vulva…. 🙄

I've never shared mine. Hairy and proud 😜

Also to add thanks - I am soooo pleased to hear this! Some good news about the situation for our young women for a change. Who knew hearing about young hairy bushes would make me so happy

I must admit I felt judged and can still remember the feeling when the surgeon looked at the nurse with an eye-roll to fetch the razor. I felt like I had missed the memo and had failed to adequately prepare and was taking up extra time. 17 years ago.

I've never shared mine. Hairy and proud

was it an immaculate conception?

Are you quite OK, @Catbumps……..?

Not used to interacting with humans, are you?

I don't think this is it. I've always shaved down there because the hair is scratchy and it just bothers me. I don't like body hair on myself, but I don't think it's unhygienic or anything like that if other women have it.

I do wonder what the average age of posters here is? Older women seem to feel more affronted by shaved pubic hair and trot out the porn line.

But the fashion for pubic hair removal is 100% because of porn.

You, as an individual, may not shave/wax because of porn. But the fashion for it has come about because of porn.

It’s like - I wouldn’t go out with hairy legs in summer. I remove that hair, because it’s my preference.

But - it would be completely naive of me to think I made that decision in a vacuum, and that there isn’t a little bit of societal pressure at play.

And, interestingly, I think it does break down because age, with younger people (probably younger than you) starting to reject the expectation to fully remove their pubic hair.

This is good! I keep hearing how no-one under 35 has even a suggestion of pubic hair. Relieved that isn't the case. I really dislike the internalised misogyny of female pubes unhygienic and gross, male pubes fine.

Yeah I’d be interested to know about ages @LobeliaSackville. Although I was heartened by the nurse pp above saying now most younger women she sees are hairy. I am 41 which is relative depending how old you are but I don’t think that old. I remember getting such a shock when I saw my sister’s shaven vulva, I don’t want to offend, but to me looking like a child’s. And for me when I’ve on rare occasion shaved my bikini line, it is itchy and uncomfy so I just don’t get it. But im sure she’d say the same as you that it feels comfier for her, so go for it.

I think though if you read any of the abundant threads on MN about body hair and grooming in general there’s liberal use of words like revolting, disgusting, filthy etc when women are referring to ungroomed women’s bodies, which I think is evidence of internalised misogyny.

I left mine as Is mainly due to the fact I hadn’t seen it in some time before I gave birth and I didn’t want to lose vital parts by trying to trim. Now I’m just lazy

I’m glad my post set some minds at ease. I think it’s cyclical- all my patient age 28-40 (my age) tend to apologise for hairy legs, wouldn’t have armpit hair or mention it with embarrassment when im fitting an implant etc whereas young twenties/teens often have armpit hair, unshaven legs and as I said pubic hair and no stress. It’s so refreshing! I dare say if you went to a different area things might be different but I have a diverse cultural population and lots of white British students and most are embracing the hair.