To shave or not to shave??

[htbftm]

Is it normal to be shaved (short or bald) down below or is 'au naturel' more the norm?

Tmi warning - I normally shave down below, but always let it grow back before smears etc because I didn't want to be judged for it. My husband thinks I'm mad, and says I must be the only person who deliberately doesn't 'tidy up' before an examination. Now i'm expecting, I don't know whether to keep it trimmed or not? What is the norm these days? I'm consultant based for previous cervical treatment, so am likely to have quite a few internals!

Just do whatever makes you happy. The midwives won't care so I would just please yourself!

A 'normal' adult female has hair around her genitals. I would expect most healthcare professionals are 100% uninterested in the length of this hair.

I actually asked my midwife about this and she said they see all sorts and don't care, so whatever works for you. It's not easy to do any kind of pubic grooming when 40 weeks pregnant anyway. I didn't bother and what with the "none of your hair falls out when you're pregnant" thing I was rather hirsute! Didn't make any difference.

I didn't bother shaving my muff. My DSil was shaving her legs in the shower during early contractions as they were preparing to go into hospital. I thought she was mad, she thought she was prepared - neither of us were right or wrong, except in our own opinion.

As long as you're not so hairily matted that your baby's head gets stuck, you'll be fine

I got bikini wax before going in for CS and I was also in early labour.. I didn't want to walk in with a forest.

You need to do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Don't bother.
If you need a section they'll trim the necessary area.
I really don't thing they give a fig. More about what makes you comfortable, but most likely you won't give a fig either when you get to it.

I've had three babies and NEVER EVER shaved anything other than my legs / underarms OCASSIONALLY in summer - most of the time I don't bother. It was only coming on MN that I discovered that women other than porn stars shaved around their genitals . I still find it a really odd idea tbh.

I dont shave mine off but occasionally trim it with a bikini trimmer or scissors until it is fairly short. I dont what stage of wildness it was at for giving birth to dd or ds - somewhere in between probably.

as a DOCTOR and on behalf of my profession WE DO NOT CARE IN THE SLIGHTEST!

What ever you do will have seen it before, to be honest we barely notice much of the time unless it is relevant for any particular reason.

Honestly we do care and WILL NOT judge you in anyway.

We are there to a job not to form an opinion about you from your hair preference!

The only thing that matters in this aspect is WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE with! If you like to go bare, full, Brazilin, dyed etc. etc. etc. and you are happy in that choice then that is all that matters.

Would love to have dyed mine purple for the big event

I choose not, I don't want any extra discomfort (re growth)

I've decided that if I am given the chance to have a natural birth, that the odds are in my favour to squeeze out an unholy comedy poo. I know it's TMI but as my sisters birth partner I saw things that only the sewers have eyes for.

For this reason, I don't care how offensive my pubic hair might look. Moreover, I doubt that I'll have the athletic proess to be able to maneauovre a razor down there at 9 months anyway.

Go for a massive lightning bolt Harry Potter style.

I think your DH must have been reading some very outdated material.

Yes in the 60s and 70s shaving before childbirth was carried out as routine in maternity units irrespective of women's wishes. There was vigorous campaigning against this (medically unnecessary) procedure and it was abandoned.

I shave normally and it is tricky at 40 week but perfectly doable. I dread to think what my rampant pubic hair (the faint memory I have of it anyway) would look like combined with childbirth and then lochia! It was bad enough when I had periods.

im 29 weeks and tried triming up in bath last night ha was a fail so doubt i'll be able to at 40 weeks so will be going in as I am.

Lol, thanks everyone! Its difficult to know what the modern range of norms are and funny what you worry about lol! Elquinto you made me laugh! And special thx to newname for the professional advice! :-) xx

I'm 31 weeks and can just about do my legs and bikini line ( very badly). The clinic at the hospital I attend (in the uk) has signs up asking the midwives to remind ladies that they shouldn't use razors just before labour but wax/ immac is ok
Am guessing it's to do with risk of infection?

That's handy to know insideout! I would have worried if immac was safe to use, so its good to know it is! :-)

I had an ELCS both times and shaved the bikini area and undercarriage, partially for the incision and partially so my bits were easier to keep clean once the lochia started. I doubt anyone cared about the latter but me.

Oh, used a razor too. In fact, for DC2 they trimmed a bit more in theatre using an electric razor, so I don't think the 'no razors' is universal.

Normal is however you want to have it. If you want it all off, find the least painful/dangerous way to do it given you can't see what you're doing . If you want to leave it, leave it. But what you shouldn't do is give one second's thought to what is the 'norm' or what is 'expected'.