Hello!

It’s a bit of a hairy topic but if you’re planning on giving birth any time soon, midwives have advised not to groom your pubic hair in preparation for labour.

It’s quite a trend these days to have a bit of a style ‘down there’, whether it’s achieved through shaving, waxing or plucking. But a midwife has advised readers on BabyCentre UK that women shouldn’t shave or wax before giving birth. And she shares the reason why.

A practising midwife in Sussex in the UK, Dr Cate Bell, said: “Our current advice is that you don’t shave or wax your pubic area just prior to giving birth

“This increases your risk of an infection especially if you have an operative procedure like a Caesarean section”.

Infections

As reported in the Mirror, shaving and waxing can cause micro-abrasions on the skin’s surface which can then become infected. And this is certainly not something you want to worry about with a new born bub to look after.

A popular topic on parenting groups is around pubic hair etiquette when giving birth. Mums assume being hairless will make labour easier and cleaner.

However, the truth is, is that the birthing team don’t really care either way – they’re more focused on getting your baby out safely rather than whether you had a Brazilian a few days before.

A study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, concluded that significantly fewer infections occur with going natural than with shaving.

So there you have it! One less thing to worry about before birth.

Do you have any strong feelings about waxing or shaving your pubic hair before birth? Tell us in the comments below.

 

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  • Never worried about doing anything. Who cares?

    Reply

  • Makes a lot of sense not doing anything down there

    Reply

  • I honestly had no clue!
    I thought it would be the other way around to be honest.
    Some women have hair that grows up higher so wouldn’t this get in the way if you have a c- section?

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  • I never even thought about it.

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  • I just had a twin but didn’t really care as I couldn’t see down there haha

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  • I’ve never thought about it at any time.

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  • I used to get Brazilians done in younger years but would end up getting rashes and chafing- natural is best.

    Reply

  • Wow! Who knew? I was too sick the entire pregnancy to even consider any form of hair removal, but know many that do. Interesting to know, but would think a Midwife would know best.

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  • I shave every time before i went for a birth.

    Reply

  • Wish i was told this before I gave birth, but i didn’t have any complications- thankfully. I think giving a bit of tidy up down there is more about personal gratification rather than others “satisfaction” or appeasement. I wanted to Be as comfortable as I could be, in the most vulnerably “open” I’ll ever be,

    Reply

  • Gosh, you leave your dignity at the front door when you walk in anyway. No one cares or is going to comment on your bush or smooth moosh!

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  • I haven’t really thought about it

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  • But if you have a caesar they shave you a bit anyway so why not do it before?

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  • Back in the seventies the nurse would shave all pubic hair off before giving birth. How times have changed.

    Reply

  • So interesting! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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