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Original poster

Wasn’t shaved elective for c-section

24 replies

WTS2020 · 07/02/2021 12:11

Hi ladies,

On Monday I had a c-section and I didn’t shave prior to it as the info leaflet I was given from the hospital said they would do it.

My dressing came off yesterday and it’s very apparent I wasn’t shaved and I have hairs across the entire wound area. Has anyone else had this?

I was told the sewing up involves overlapping the skin so I’m worried I have hairs growing underneath the wound now!

OP posts:
SunnySideUp2020 · 07/02/2021 15:55

Never heard of stitching involving overlapping skin... 🤨

Maybe ask your midwife if you are concerned?
Are you having issues with the healing?

GolfForBrains · 07/02/2021 15:57

If the sewing involved overlapping, you would always have hairs growing underneath unless they gave you a course of IPL....

20viona · 07/02/2021 15:57

Surgeons generally know how to suture to avoid the risk of ingrown hairs dependent on direction of hair growth.

bellagogosdead · 07/02/2021 16:00

Think about it for a minute, even if you were shaved they still wouldn't have the edges of skin overlapping. The wound wouldn't heal properly and the hair would grow back.
Congratulations on your baby Grin

TheUndoingProject · 07/02/2021 16:03

Shaving just cuts the hair, it doesn’t get rid of it. So if your wound does overlap (which I don’t think is right to be honest ) shaving wouldn’t have prevented the issue.

WilsonandNoodles · 07/02/2021 16:07

They didn't wax you.
Surely after 6 days the hairs would be growing back anyway, mine always have been. Or am I just extra hairy 🤭
The hairs will find the way to where they need to be, I wouldn't worry but if you are get your midwife to check it looks clean.

Echobelly · 07/02/2021 16:09

Don't worry about it - either I or they (can't remember) shaved a very thin strip across the top beforehand (I don't shave my pubic hair at all normally), the scar is pretty much on the 'hairline' so fairly hidden by it

whatnow41 · 07/02/2021 16:17

I had an EMCS 9 yrs ago and wasn't shaved. The scar line has no hair on it as hair follicles get destroyed by the cut. I still have no feeling around the scar site either, quite strange.

You'll be fine. Research actually shows shaving before a CS is more likely to introduce infection than not shaving. That's why they don't do it.

wonkylegs · 07/02/2021 16:18

Mine wasn't shaved either c-section.
Neither one overlapped skin when it was sutured. Both were extremely neat and now are barely visible. No problems with them at all.

ForeverBubblegum · 07/02/2021 16:23

I thought the shaving was just so it doesn't stick to the dressing, as the dressing is already off I wouldn't worry. Loads of people must have EMCS without time to shave, so it can't be crucial.

User0ne · 07/02/2021 16:27

I e had a section. You don't need to be shaved. The skin should meet not overlap.

If you're concerned ask your midwife to look at it but unless you had a section performed by a surgeon with no medical training I doubt they've bodged the stitching

GameSetMatch · 07/02/2021 16:39

I didn’t shave for my section and I wasn’t shaved either. I don’t know why you would be? Just for clarity I wasn’t shave for my natural birth either, seems very outdated advice.

BoringBettie · 07/02/2021 16:45

Don’t worry about it - I wasn’t shaved for it either, I was overdue and on bed rest, it wasn’t going to happen!! I ended up having emergency csection and have never had any trouble with hairs - nearly 5 years later :) congrats on your new baby!

ivfbeenbusy · 07/02/2021 16:47

I wasn't either as it was an emergency c section

ShowOfHands · 07/02/2021 16:47

I had a crash CS. No time for consent, let alone a shave.

Ithinkhedidit · 07/02/2021 16:53

I think hair removal raises the risk of infection. Also if you were shaved on Monday then the hairs would be growing back by now anyway surely? So maybe you were shaved? When I had an ELCS they did shave a small section but certainly not tons! The incision is actually a lot smaller than I expected.

luxxlisbon · 07/02/2021 16:59

Shaving wouldn’t do anything for overlapping skin. It would only be cut short so it would still grow whether it was shaved before or not.
The skin shouldn’t overlap when stitched together anyway.

C152 · 07/02/2021 17:04

It's no longer standard to shave a woman prior to her giving birth. They must have cut you very low for you to be worried about hairs growing in the wound. (I had an emergency CS, but the cut is way above where any hair is.) I didn't have any skin overlapping when I was stitched up either...although they seem to have tied a MASSIVE knot on one side of the thread, as I could feel it long after the rest of the stitches had dissolved.

Congrats on your baby!

ChonkyChook · 07/02/2021 17:08

My scar is below my hair pine, C152. Maybe I've just got a really hairy belly 😅

I kept the wound clean and have had no problems with hair or infection, hopefully you'll be the same OP. Congratulations on your new baby.

ChonkyChook · 07/02/2021 17:08

Hair line.

I do not have a pine fashioned from public hair.

Updatemate · 07/02/2021 17:37

I wasn't shaved.

WilsonandNoodles · 07/02/2021 18:26

'Pine fashioned pubic hair' I hope thats a look that becomes fashionable!

I was shaved for both my sections 1st 4 years ago emergency and the told me they were doing it mid contractions while getting me to try and sign consent forms. Second was planned and I was asked to do it in preparation. Interestingly wound got infected both times.

ChonkyChook · 07/02/2021 21:01

I've never been a trendsetter @WilsonandNoodles so that'll be a first!

I bet that was a lot to take in too! I couldn't have sat still for that during a contraction! Mine was planned, they went in just below the public hair line and didn't shave me. Maybe it's a recent change.

lamptastic · 08/02/2021 08:10

Incisions are closed by bringing the edges together and suturing closed, NOT by overlapping skin, which would be weird.

No need to shave, hairs can crack on and grow as they please. Just monitor for signs of infection at the wound site like you would for any wound. :)

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