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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Grooming in birth

43 replies

alita7 · 16/05/2014 22:40

Ok I'm still 25 weeks away but it occurred to me today how hard it is going to get to shave my legs and to sort out my lady bits :P

What's normal regarding this at birth?

I had bikini waxes so that will not be an option, dp will help me trim that area I'm sure but it won't be pristine...

And my legs get awful rashes when I shave them too often, so it's unlikely I will have well shaved legs even if I can still reach!!

Does anyone actually care?

OP posts:

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Geminiwitch22 · 16/05/2014 22:41

I don't think they do but now you've said this I'm curious to.....

guineapig1 · 16/05/2014 22:41

I promise that nobody will care, least of all you

Bunbaker · 16/05/2014 22:43

"Does anyone actually care?"

No.

This topic comes up regularly and some posters are midwives and the resounding answer is that they don't care or don't notice.

HandragsNGladbags · 16/05/2014 22:43

DC3 is 10 days old. I came out of hospital and shaved, trimmed and did my toe nails.

No one, including me, gave a jot in labour - you won't either I promise

Original poster

alita7 · 16/05/2014 22:45

hate bikini waxes to make that clear :P

OP posts:

PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 16/05/2014 22:49

No, they don't care.

But if you fancy giving your legs a tidy up, get out of the shower, lather them up with foam, shave (rinsing the blade under the tap) by putting your foot up on the toilet seat or side of the bath and then get back in the shower to rinse off. A faff, so only really worth it for big events!

Mybellyisaneasteregg · 16/05/2014 22:55

Ever since my bump got big I have been setting aside a morning on the weekend to shave my legs and bikini line. I take a chair into the bathroom and spend a good few minutes doing it as best I can, as it is something that is important to me. For my bikini line I use a mirror to help.

I can't go for a wax at this stage as i personally would be too self conscious.

Mybellyisaneasteregg · 16/05/2014 22:56

Oh and for my legs I sit on a chair and prop my leg up on the toilet seat.

ohthegoats · 16/05/2014 23:12

Only 21 weeks, but already this is difficult. Boyf is going to trim the lady garden for me on Sunday - we've booked it in. Haha.

Original poster

alita7 · 16/05/2014 23:36

interesting replies :p

I wish I had a bath... only got a shower -.- but hoping to move before baby is born.

Has anyone known they're in the early stages of labour and been able to shave their legs during the wait to go to the hospital? I know it's hardly a priority :p

OP posts:

CorporeSarnie · 16/05/2014 23:38

The only time anyone in the delivery room will care is if you need a CS. I was handed a cheap disposable razor and sent to trim what had become rather a luxuriant area, as I couldn't see it. The lower the incision is the less visible the scar. Otherwise yes it becomes a bit of a pita once you stop being able to see your toes.

beebop100 · 17/05/2014 00:47

It's helpful if it's not too long down there in case you need stitches, really helps midwives see what they're doing if it's trimmed. Also, it's difficult to see the baby's head in the early stages of pushing if it's too long. And there's so much stuff coming out in the way of fluid and mucus plug that it can get caught up in longer hairs. I promise, midwives don't care or judge, I've only ever seen one or two with a wax so the vast majority just trim it back a bit.

livingzuid · 17/05/2014 01:02

I was hoping to have a it all waxed just before all the action starts but i have varicose veins there now and the whole lady area is not what it once was! Dh is going to trim it right back for me. It's in case of stitches and I imagine it will be easier to keep clean post labour to.

MrsMonkeyBear · 17/05/2014 05:55

I got some of that spray on hair removal cream for my legs. It's so easy to use, I can even get hubby to do it. I made sure I got the sensitive stuff and had no reactions.

As for the Lady Garden, well as long as I can trim I will, but once I can't see down there, I don't care.

TobyLerone · 17/05/2014 06:39

I got DH to trim my vadge with the clippers when I couldn't see to do it myself. He happened to do it a few days before I gave birth, which was fortuitous :o

I also scalded my leg badly when I was 37 weeks pg, so they remained very hairy for weeks while the dressings were being changed by nurses several times a week. It eventually healed enough to shave most of that leg, and I did it while I was having a pre-hospital shower after my waters broke.

But I'm positive they don't care.

Anotheronesoon · 17/05/2014 06:46

I've had a bikini wax for both my births and glad I did as one less thing to worry about! Also glad legs shaved and not stubbly as had loads of people touching them when up in stirrups the first time round. Probably didn't care at the time but glad in retrospect. I'm sure no one else cared though!

scaevola · 17/05/2014 06:52

No, no one cares.

If you're having a planned section, it's worth removing hair from the area where post-op dressings will go (as for any body part on any person when incision is planned - less painful to get dressings off if there's no hair). Ideally this is done a little while before procedure, so that micro abrasions are not an additional infection risk.

Shaving before childbirth was compulsory in many units from 1950-1980s (ish) and was vigorously campaigned against, and fortunately abandoned. There is no medical need whatsoever for depilation.

Waitinggame8 · 17/05/2014 09:28

Already had the hubby have to do my legs, used a cream that wipes off, worked fine.
As for lady bits I've used one of those bikini line trimmers throughout as I can manage without having to see!
36+3 now so not long to go.

Martorana · 17/05/2014 09:34

"I've had a bikini wax for both my births and glad I did as one less thing to worry about!"

So sad to think this is something anyone would actually worry about.........

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 17/05/2014 09:37

Midwives are medical professionals. They don't care how hairy you are. It's so weird that people think this is something that matters.

GwenStacy · 17/05/2014 09:47

I didn't do any grooming but mentioned to my midwife that some people I know were really worried about it in passing as we were chatting and she was astounded that people thought they noticed or cared :)

Bunbaker · 17/05/2014 09:50

Exactly Martorana and Ehric

livingzuid · 17/05/2014 09:59

The same types of comments always come up on these threads. If the OP and others feel more comfortable not having a huge bush down there during labour then who is anyone to judge?

To be blunt, someone is going to be staring at your vagina looking at a baby coming out and potentially fishing around in there. It doesn't get more personal than that. Unless you've got experience or come from a medical background, it's natural to wonder whether they notice or not.

Martorana · 17/05/2014 10:03

See? That's the sort of comment I wish people didn't make- perfectly normal adult woman's body hair=huge bush.

Bunbaker · 17/05/2014 10:05

Your last point is a perfectly valid one living lizard. Although when I was having DD nearly 14 years ago (pre MN) it wouldn't have occurred to me to think of these things.

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