Shaved before c-section, wasn't supposed to!

[doingitalllagain]

Just got home from my pre-op and was reading through everything and it says to not shave in the 7 days before. I shaved this morning before going in! My section is booked for Thursday.

Do I need to phone up and tell them? Will they postpone?!

😂 I wouldn't worry. If you needed up having an emergency you wouldn't know not to shave. I've never heard that and have had 2 sections although admittedly never made it to the pre op date either time!

I had a c section 7 years ago, I was asked if I'd shaved, I said no, so they did it for me. Just the top bit though.

Don’t worry, I was explicitly told in July this year to shave for my c-section as part of my pre-op. Big hospital with two theatres for sections. You’ll be fine.

I had an emergency section so had shaved and nothing was asked or mentioned. They would shave it anyway if hair was in the way I imagine like they do with any operation

I shaved the morning of for both of mine (had latest one 4 months ago). Not an issue. They do emergency ones all the time and mums will be shaved. They shave it for you at the start of the op if you haven't done it, I preferred to do it myself.

Zero need to worry or tell them. Certainly they will not postpone it.

The reasoning (at least this is what I've been told at work) is that your home razor has loads of bacteria on it. So if you nick yourself near where the incision site will be, that wound will have bacteria in it. As it won't be 100% healed within the week, you could be setting yourself up for a wound (or deeper) infection further down the line.

I still shaved before my inductions anyway. One of which ended in C-section. And I'd do it again.

I'm sure it won't matter, I was specifically ask to shave the top part before I went in (not easy with a massive bump!) Good luck 😁

I was asked if I had shaved before my csection and if I hadn't they was going to do it for me so i wouldn't panic

I had an elective after 2 emergencies and my then wonderful husband shaved me for it as he had been so horrified to see the way I was shaved previously . His skill was commented upon by the nurses

Had two c sections and never been told not to shave 😳.

Your H was 'horrified' and his 'skill' was commented on? WTF is this? Women are not barbie dolls to be judged.
I'm horrified reading this!

Didn't you know they make you wait the hair grows back? Your baby could be in there for weeks :)

There was really nothing to be horrified about @AbsoluteYawns ! He noticed that when I was shaved for the first emergency C section that it was (very necessarily) done quickly with a Bic and with little care resulting in shaving cuts and tears. The same happened for the second Emergency C section two years later. So when the elective happened and I was told to shave the night before, he volunteered to shave me, around the existing scar using shaving foam and a proper razor (I couldn't reach around my massive belly anyway). Obviously I couldn't see the result but the nurses said it was very neat and tidy! It was meant to be a lighthearted story from 30 years ago but obviously came across wrong.

Better you do it than a nurse scrape you with a dry disposable Bic razor! That was horrible.

I had awful razor rash thanks to that.

This makes a lot more sense @blobby10 !
Thanks for clarifying- the original post you put up I obviously read in a totally different light.

As a student on maternity I was always given the job to shave patients before delivery, and give enemas. There's no real skill to it!
Either way it doesn't matter that much.

I wouldn't worry, before both of mine I was told to come waxed or shaved, or they would "do it for me with cheap Bic".

I was shaved for my emergency and was asked to shave for my elective. It’ll be fine.

I've had 3 sections and was told not to do it within 48 hours. So at my pre ops they said if you're going to shave, do it soon!

Hi OP. Sorry slightly off topic but can I ask what your pre op involved?
I have an appointment with the anesthetist this Friday - I'm guessing this will be my pre op? I'm 37+4 and still waiting for a date for my ELCS.

Good luck with your ELCS on Thursday!

Shaving just before slightly increases the risk of infection. Hair is there for a reason. But don't worry, I am sure it will be fine.

I think they just prefer to shave you themselves.

How you managed to shave yourself is quite impressive 🤣

I wouldn’t worry.

Really wouldn't worry about it. They wouldn't care if it was An emergency c section. I'd had to stay in unexpectedly for a couple weeks before my section- went to triage and got admitted there and then so i didn't get a chance to shave anything. They did it for me the morning of.

I am surprised some places are still shaving. Shaving increases chances of infection. This is research based. Shaving should only happen around the sites of any proposed cuts.

I was told not to shave but only because the bump would mean I’d make a hash of it and look like I had mange and I might prefer their electric razor.

No idea whether they did a good job as the overhang blocks all view.