Elective c-section shave or not

[Mum2025]

Hi mums

Anyone who had an elective c-section or any c-section did you shave or not ?? The reason I ask is because I want to do the shaving myself . I don't feel comfortable with a midwife or anyone else doing it . Was there any problem when you shaved yourself ?

No problem at all except I couldn’t reach around my massive bump so DH did it. The midwife commented on what a beautiful job he had done 🤣🤣

Full bush here, it's less than the top inch of pubes they shave off. A c section if far more invasive than a couple of seconds with a Bic though, I'd let the theatre staff deal with it.

I mean you’ll be lying there on a table all exposed anyway so don’t get the drama

I never even knew they did it until after the birth tbh it was just done discreetly when I was being prepped

Tbh I'm already uncomfortable about that . I'm insecure with the way I look there so the less they look more comfortable I am

I had an EMCS under GA. Until now, it hadn’t actually occurred to me that they had shaved me where they cut. I remember being worried about it with DD1 and shaving down there whilst in early labour. Didn’t for DD2 or DS and just trimmed as normal. All of my births involved far more intimate things than removing a bit of hair.

Tbh I'm already insecure about how I look there and the less people look at me the more I can pretend I don't exist

I'm just insecure with the way it looks and I already want to pretend I don't exist , it's just something less for them to look at 😭

If it worries you then shave at home it's only a small strip at the top. They won't mind but maybe it is worth talking to the midwife about how you are feeling so they can try to make it more comfortable for you?

Honestly it really isn't worth even thinking about. The theatre staff really will not care, it is the very least of their worries and it should be the least of yours too.

It does sound like you are worried about the whole thing, has your midwife talked you through the procedure? There will be lots of people in the room, all with different things to observe and some who will only be up the head end. Once the surgeon done a vaginal examination, they are working externally on getting you baby out and it will probably be quite quick. You will be stiched up and covered up again very soon and while this is happening you and the midwives will be focused on your new baby.

They do multiple c sections every day and will have seen everything before many many times! Just so that you’re fully prepared, you do lie there completely nude from the waist down.They have to insert your catheter too so they will be down there anyway. I shaved myself and that meant they didn’t need to though! They are very professional and matter of fact and just focused on getting your baby out safely - prepping your bits to them is the same as prepping an arm or a leg for surgery!

OP, maybe you should speak to the mental health midwife about pretending you don't exist in your own labour. I feel quite worried about you.

I had an emergency hernia repair on my groin and lay there fully nude while they shaved me. Nobody is looking at your body.

I went and got waxed before my due date
A friend had and emergency section and the hospital dry shaved her and she had some badly ingrown hairs.

I did end up with and emergency section as well and was grateful I'd been waxed.

Although waxing was painful too

lol I think you misunderstood 😂😂😂

Best practice is actually not to shave. I wasn’t shaved 20 years ago for either of my sections.

shaving, waxing etc cause damage to the skin which increases infection risk.

obviously some women do it from preference, and some hospitals continue to do so because it’s what they’ve always done, or they haven’t reviewed their infection protocols.

ask your m/w what your hospital do is probably your best bet.

What do you think is special about your vajayjay that the medics, who see thousands of them a year, are going to be particularly interested in/disgusted by yours?

I imagine they'd shave again anyway to sort any regrowth. The medics are there to do a job, not pass judgment on genitals. And as they also assist in vaginal births, they've seen far more interesting and gross things than someone's normally hairy, normally fannylike fanny.

I'm new to here so don't know how to edit my post . I appreciate the comments but I mean when you shaved was it a problem ? Like did it cause an infection like some say online or was fine ?

I don't recall getting shaved. I've had two, and I'm a full bush woman. Mind you after the numbing bit you can't feel anything but I don't remember hair growing back - but then again I was a bit preoccupied!

I did a full veet job about 1.5 weeks before so it was neat but also didn’t need the midwives to shave then!

It's risk of infection. You're more at risk but it's not a dead cert.

The problem is is that any small nicks and cuts could harbour bacteria inside that the cleaning solution wouldn't get to.

In reality though, as the person that would be shaving you in theatre if needed, most women shave/cream/wax beforehand. If it would bother you to have someone do it, just do it. I shaved before both my inductions, as I don't think I could have looked any of my colleagues in the eye afterwards if they had had to shave me. I know it's not much, but still.

I promise you won't know or care in the event op.

I can't even remember if I did or didn't.
Probably not though as I was admitted to hospital without notice just over a week before my section....i've never even thought about it but they must have done it as the scar is definitely below the line where hair grows.

Childbirth is pretty undignified anyway and you're lying there completely naked (with a screen up at least so you can't see), there's a catheter to go in, plus multiple checks afterwards.

I don't know at what point it happened as i was mortified at the thought running up to it but there was definitely a point where I just didn't care anymore and all focus was on my baby.