CS - how much do they shave?

[GibberingGinger]

I'm preparing to have a c-section and have tidied up down there, which was no minor task as i haven't seen it in months. However I'm not a very hairy person, and normally prefer to just give it a crew cut, as the few times I have shaved the edges to neaten it up I've ended up with ingrowing hairs. Ouch. However I want to know how much people have had removed for a c-section. My friend went to the beauticians and had it all tidied up and lowered quite a lot at the front, but they still dry shaved it all off with a disposable rasor . I think I'll have enough to cope with afterwards without coping with regrowth and ingrowing hairs, particularly around the scar area! double ouch!

What are your experiences?

My local hospital had a policy not to shave when I had my CS...have you asked your midwife?

A friend of mine was told to use hair removing cream as it doesn't cause tiny cuts and that's better for avoiding infections. Also a more comfortable regrowth. Not sure how much she had to do though, I agree, ask your midwife.

About an inch I think. It didn't cause any problems afterwards, slightly itchy I suppose but the scar area will be numb for quite a few weeks/months after your cs.

Only a bit right at the top, maybe 2cm or so? Probably depends on how high up your hair goes! To be honest, it was a crash section so I wasn't present and never gave it a moments thought. You'll have more to worry think about afterwards than whether your lady bits are itchy.

my scar is less than a cm from the top of any regrowth, as far as I remember them saying, they try to keep it as near to the bikini line as possible.

With ds1 they were rather over zealous with the shears and I felt rather bald but it was an emergency so no time for cosmetics but for ds3 it wasn't so severe, guess they had ds1's scar as a marker and had plenty of time to style it!

I'm convinced the regrowth was less compact than pre dc Its the scar that itches more than the regrowth. get yourself some disposable knickers, they look repulsive (netted cotton) but really soft and don't rub on the scar.

Good luck

Ooooo yes - definitely big knickers. Don't necessarily have to be disposable, but just really cheap ones you can chuck away without worrying. Big Norah Batty type ones, you don't want anything rubbing anywhere near the scar lovey.

Also, if you're planning on BF, there's a pillow called Mybrestfriend, which kind of does up round your waist, so it keeps all the weight off the scar area. I thought it was fab.

I had a c section 3 weeks ago and didnt need to be shaved as my hairline was so low so if your not very hairy you might not need shaved. And Id say YES to the big pants - I wore cotton ones up to my belly button comfort is key!

HAs anyone experienced any leaking in their wound? I have had quite bad leaking, pouring out some days. There was a slight hole in wound and MF said this would heal in time without any further intervention. LAst night found another small hole in wound which is new. It felt stingy but not sore.

Take the top inch off to be sure they don't decide to do more! Helps if you can get DH to do it in a warm bath with a nice new razor so nothing gets missed. My scar is right at the top of my bikini line - I've had 2 sections and no itchy regrowth.

Def need big knickers too!

Just in case no-one has pointed it out , granny knickers are the way to go. Nice big cotton ones from the supermarket that you can throw out later.

Full briefs are best - good for wound and for trhe big pads you'll be wearing, that way you wont feel as self conscious about leaking.

Er, hang on...

Scar is about a cm below the hairline. No itchiness or problems (and it was an em cs) and I get LOTS of ingrowing hairs if I do it myself.

My scar area was numb for a good while. They didn't shave me but I think if you're numb you'll get away with the regrowth!

Thanks, I've got a midwife appt tomorrow so will ask her then. I'll also be awake at the actual section (barring major problems) so will be able to negotiate the shave hopefully! Its not the regrowth I'm dreading, its the ingrowing hairs. Shudder.

Must remember to buy big knicks.

I was given a razor by the midwife when I arrived for my cs and told to shave myself. I hadn't seen my feet in months let alone anything else so had no chance of doing a good job and was scared to cut myself (the irony!). In the end the midwife reluctantly did it for me and I have no idea how much was taken off. I have just realised this post wasn't helpful at all.

My hosital has just started shaving you on the operating table. Something to do infection control? Plus it saves having pubes on your hosital bed!

hospital

definitely get ginormopants

i have had 2 sections - 1 emergency, 1 elective, no shaving required for either.

For my EMCS they shaved about an inch off from the top, with an electric razor thank God, the thought of being dry shaved down there is horrendous!

Having an ELCS this time and plan on using immac to take the lot off, then I won't have to worry about it!

Definitely agree with the big pants. I bought a cheap pack of from ASDA, about 3 sizes too big, and they were fantastic. Came up so high they were no way near the scar, and plenty of room for the enormous maternity pads too. Chucked them away as I changed them, so although felt a bit wasteful, no different from the paper ones really, just far more comfortable.

Good luck

I had an EMCS and as far as I can remember noone shaved me.

they only shave a small bit off ,another vote for grannie pants so they dont rub your cs scar !!