Preparations

NutMeg76 · #1 December 22nd, 2011, 08:30 PM

I received a handout fromt eh doc today and on it is says, "If you normally shave your abdomen and perineum (pubic hairs), it is recommended that you stop now until after delivery to prevent infections."

I guess I don't have to worry about the doc seeing my jungle

mcfly · #2 December 22nd, 2011, 08:31 PM

Hmm, interesting, I wonder if waxing carries the same risks?

Mrs. Harris · #3 December 22nd, 2011, 09:20 PM

Interesting...what about just trimming? Like only shaving the edges and not all of it?

PastelCalico · #4 December 22nd, 2011, 09:46 PM

There was a study I heard about that said shaving in general can cause more infections and other issues and leave you more vulnerable to things like STD's. I still shave it and I plan to keep doing so.

I am not concerned about it looking perfect during delivery, but I don't want anything crazy going on either.

NutMeg76 · #5 December 22nd, 2011, 10:18 PM

I just googled it really quick and read on about.com that bikini wax/shaving is okay, but that Brazilian or complete shaving or waxing can increase the risk of post-partum infection.

The war on pubic hair must end

acupofjoe · #6 December 22nd, 2011, 11:59 PM

Well i guess my Dr is lucky then..i gave up a couple of weeks ago. I cant even barely see my feet so seeing the girly bits is out!

Nicole_Baby5 · #7 December 23rd, 2011, 12:03 AM

Thanks for the info! This is not something I have thought of at all, but it totally makes sense. Shaving and waxing create tiny openings in the skin; there by leaving you prone to infection...

BoobyDutyAgainJen · #8 December 23rd, 2011, 03:15 AM

I have been debating this one. I have several weeks growth going and would like to be more "trim" going into the PP bleeding. Buuuuut I don't want to be freshly shaven or less than a weeks out from shaving when I go into labor. So I either shave NOW or I don't get to until I recover enough that I want to PP. UGH.

BeccaBee · #9 December 23rd, 2011, 03:53 AM

I got a similar letter from my hospital, specifically about shaving near my previous c-section scar as they will do it for me to prevent infection. My girlfriends were teasing me recently over not waxing before delivery so I may share this article. They are more concerned with what their doctors see than their husbands. I've never waxed down there, and for the last few months have been shaving blindly, but I'm really not overly concerned with what the doctors see. As I told them, I'm an overweight woman, with a huge baby in her belly, and my lady bits are not going to be the focus of any attention whatsoever.

SarahMc · #10 December 23rd, 2011, 07:41 AM

LOL, I can't say I'm too worried, I can't really see what I'm doing to shave down there anymore anyway, and I figure doctors have seen it all (and worse) before, so figure as long as I'm clean...who cares!

MamaSugarplump · #11 December 23rd, 2011, 07:46 AM

I had DH help me for my 36 week appointment since it was my first "check" down there and I told him to get it good because it would probably be the last time I do it before baby comes. I just can't do it myself and don't want him to have to keep doing it either, even though he really doesn't mind.

We use a beard trimmer so it's never been a true "shave". Something about putting a real razor down there scares me because I know how much it hurts just to nick a leg or armpit. I can't imagine nicking something down there... ouch! And like SarahMc said, as long as I'm clean down there I'm not going to worry about it anymore.

DeepSouthMommy · #12 December 23rd, 2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Harris

Interesting...what about just trimming? Like only shaving the edges and not all of it?

You can safely trim the overall length of the hair and it is safe to trim/shave/wax the front part (the hair that shows when standing up with your legs together), but you definitely should not shave or wax the area further back. That area (your labia) has much thinner skin and during delivery you are at a higher risk of getting an infection from a tiny cut or getting an ingrown hair as things will be swollen there, making small cuts bigger and any pores where hair would grow much smaller for a bit.

Desiree McD · #13 December 23rd, 2011, 08:56 AM

I already knew that. Doc warned me before my last c-section that if I shaved myself, they would put off my surgery. I was like

. They shaved me the minute I got to the hospital and that woman was NOT gentle..

So this time I'm way prepared, but I'm haaaaaating it. Blah!!

BobbityBoo · #14 December 23rd, 2011, 09:08 AM

When I read the little pop up when you hover over the link I seriously thought your doc was going to tell you to shave as close to delivery as possible!! I was like WOW... that's old school!!!

I'm debating if I should use DH's beard trimmer to clean things up down there. But those scare me more than a razor. He had really crappy ones for a long time that would catch his skin. He has new ones now that don't do that... but it still picture snagging skin down there! Yeouch!!!