Shall I get a wax before labour?

[HannahG315]

This might make me sound like a minger...

I'm 40 weeks and haven't bothered 'personal grooming' (legs or intimate) for a month... I lie it's been two

I bought the wax strips but I just CBA... Do you think hospital staff will judge me??

Chica - Wax if you want to, but why on earth would the professionals prefer it? . The bits that tend to tear or need stitching aren't that hairy, and nor are the bits the baby comes out of. And with all the blood and gore, a bit of hair is neither here nor there on visibility. The only area where there is a medical preference is around incision site for a section.

Unfortunately, my perineum is pretty hairy.. more-so since i got pregnant. It's probably reasonably fair and light, but it's horrible. Wirey too. It feels horrible anyway. I'll get it done i think.

Wow Chicamomma!!! I got my eyebrows threaded as a treat after my sweep, I thought I was the classiest pregnant gal going...

Get me back to the spa!

Are you for real, Chica? It's not a beauty contest!

Well, shoot me for wanting to look respectable. I know it's not a beauty contest, but i do take pride in my appearance- sincerest apologies about that. Whatever makes me feel better on the day is surely a good thing? So yes, i am 'FOR REAL'.

Chicamomma I sincerely meant no disrespect!! It's nice to feel nice!

I'm jealous- I'd love to go and get myself spruced up! Would like to feel more woman less pregnant!

When your OH gives you the glad eye because you got a treatment, nice dress or your hair done makes me feel a million dollars. He would never not tell me I'm pretty, but it's nice to get things noticed.

Same breath, I love being a big minging mess and still getting the glad eye.

I do just because I'd feel more uncomfortable if it wasn't all tidy-I don't even like my husband seeing it all hairy lol, so I'd say if you're going to feel that way get someone to wax for you but if not I'm sure the staff will not care a bit. I wouldn't judge someone else for that and if they do well then they aren't worth worrying about.x

It wasnt you that offended, dont worry Hannah!

It's definitely true love when we get the glad eye looking like beached-whale-boiled-eggs.. But also it will be nice to feel a bit normal on the day, no matter how bad i look by the end- i'd like to start out the process feeling somewhat attractive! i have a 'thing' about my white neck- a long lasting 'thing'- dont ask me why but i always feel 20 times better when i have fake tan on it.. just a layer or Dove holiday skin- not full on TOWIE! where's the harm in that? Little things make a big difference i find.

I am 44 in April and I haven't bothered with 'personal grooming' for 44 years.

Are you massively hairy OP or just normal? If you are really hairy with stuff all down your legs and all over your bum then maybe you should book yourself in with the groomers?

Agree with chica, its nice to look hot in the after delivery photos too! I'd feel a bit ewww as well if I hadn't waxed or shaved down there. Also, all that bleeding afterwards is even more yuck if you're hairy - last time I didn't wax before and I remember being all itchy and sticky and blood clotty afterwards.

Haha. I'm horrific tbh!! Really really pale with jet black hair all over!

I would love to feel more at home not paying others to torture me I'm just not that bold...

I blame my mother, she's olive skinned and only has to PLUCK the occasional hair from her legs!!!!! Genetics were not fairly distributed across the generations

... I've even had to wax my belly...

I won't be surprised if I give birth to a bear!

Tell me about it Hannah- my mother, my sister and my brother are all perfectly olive skinned too, they tan by looking at the front of the microwave.. My sister looked like a picture of health post labour.. i am the blue/pink one in the family... it gives me huge rage!!!

Mummyluce that does make sense about the stitches/bleeding. And who knows, a good brazilian wax might bring on labour!

Chica - Have to say, if you want to look nice afterwards, I'd make the eyelash tint the definite, not the maybe (assuming it's safe in pregnancy, have never checked) and the wax the maybe. Believe me, nothing about the business end is going to be looking 'respectable' for a while afterwards . If you are only doing one I'd focus your efforts on the non-business end!

But I do agree that it's nice to feel a bit less awful. For all I happily go out without make up, I have mascara, concealer and blush in my hospital bag. I did nothing before photos with DD1 and I look like a zombie. With DD2 I did those three things and I look happy and healthy (fact that it was a 10 hour labour not a three day marathon may have helped a weeeee bit there too).

Chica and Hannah I'm the same ... and half my family olive skin and half properly fair. Me = worst of both worlds.

Mind you I don't like not having anything down there. Feels odd. I do a bikini wax and trim.

My main pregnancy woe is my fullsome tache which hurts to pluck. I work with teenagers so politics aside I'd have to deal with any comments I overheard (pastoral duties so need a certain level of firmness) if I do the full Freida Kahlo.

Get it threaded not plucked!!!!!

Wax/ plucking can snap the hairs and if the skin grows over you'll get irritated skin or ingrowing hair.

• learnt hard way, got hair on the side of my face whilst pregnant.

I must look into the threading- always assumed it was a waste of time but clearly not! have gotten myself a fine hairy chin and 'side of face' while preggo so threading might be the answer.. i might also give birth to a bear Hannah! although i'm generally not THAT hairy, it must be all the extra progesterone

Penguins, agreed on those essentials- concealer, mascara and bronzer- i'll feel alive with those 3!

am currently considering a wax for a spa day/spot of swimming but then I have been so itchy at my pant line recently (combo of wrong pants and tights all day I think) that as soon as I get home and into my baggies all I want to do is scratch myself on the sofa!! So maybe a wax isn't a good idea. urgh. all that itching when it grows back. I'd rather just wear a pair of board shorts like all the girls do in asia! there, sorted.

I was waxed & had a pedicure when I was about 40 weeks pregnant as I thought I'd be too busy afterwards. My only warning is that bikini line waxing hurt more than normal due to the fantastic blood flow. Luckily I didn't have to have c-sections so could keep my toenail polish on.

Actually that's something i've been meaning to ask, about the nailpolish- I thought we had to be clear of nail polish (on our hands) in case of an emergency section? Yet i've noticed in all eps of One Born Every Minute, they all have nail polish on. It's fine to have on your toes as they only need either toes OR fingers clear, right? What would happen for eg if you had Shellac (or similar) on our hands at say 34 weeks, and you had to have an emergency section for whatever reason?

Genuine question! It's been annoying me every time i watch OBEM.. i mean with the high % of labours that end in sections (20% or so) you'd think it would be strictly forbidden to have any polish on at all??

It's always up to the individual, but it might be helpful to share that only a small percentage of women get rid of most of their pubic hair, especially when heavily pregnant! Most women do absolutely nothing and midwives don't give a toss

Even as someone who does groom my ladyparts, I'm always a bit shocked by the number of posters who think that it will horrify professionals without any tending, in just a few years waxing/shaving seems to have gone from a personal choice to something that is absolutely necessary to stop you from terrifying your husband, your doctor and possibly your baby .

Now the eyelash tint is something I'll definitely be doing next time, in the photos my baby is beautiful but I look like some kind of guinea pig...

It's not even gone from "personal choice". 15 years ago, the only people I knew who went totally hairless generally had genital piercings and went to fetish clubs. In the space of 15 years it seems to have gone from something thst it was shocking to do to something that it is shocking not to do.

We have nail polish remover on the wards to remove polish prior to an emergency section.

The gel/shellacs which can't come off with ordinary remover are a problem. The anaesthetists can get a tad excited. Oxygen sats monitors might not work as well, sometimes you can clip it on a toe.

Thanks Viva- that's what i figured. I've stopped getting Shellac for that reason, even though i'm only 26 weeks- better safe than sorry etc.

SunnySummer- i dont give a toss about the medics to be honest, i'd only be getting the bikini wax for myself (and i guess for hubby too). I'm sure the midwives are well used to seeing all sorts of 70s pubic looks! But i just hate it, personally. So bald i will be.

"15 years ago, the only people I knew who went totally hairless generally had genital piercings and went to fetish clubs."

I think this is regional. When I was growing up (OVER 15 years ago) this was not the case: LOADS of young women did it. You were seen as a bit naive if you didn't do anything (mocked) and the terms 'Brazilian' and 'Hollywood' were normal round salons in the 2 cities I lived in.
But it gets declared this wasn't happening so often on MN and in the media that this didn't happen it must be true in many towns/cities.

Mind you I remember big fusses and slut shaming about thong knickers and what bra people wore.