To wax or not to wax!

[Emmykate82]

Hi ladies,

So a midwife at the one (and only) antenatal class i attended suggested that waxing (down there) was not necessarily a good thing, because it increased risk of infection?!?!

Normally i'm a total fan of the full brazilian, but haven't bothered during the later stages of my pregnancy (i can't see below my belly anyways )... but totally planned one for the next couple of weeks or so before giving birth (heaven forbid i should even slightly resemble the ladies in those 80's films they showed us in the antenatal class)!

I would have thought it would have made things cleaner, and easier to look after any stitches/tears after birth (even though i am breech and looking at having a c/s if this bub doesn't turn)..

Any thoughts?

[Winter]

While it can be uncomfortable to get the waxing done (the laying on your back thing), if you usually like to be waxed, then you will probably feel better having it done than not. I know I felt 'tidy' and ready for my nether regions to be on display after getting waxed.

I can only say make sue you get a beautician that understands being awkward and uncomfortable in pregnancy and will give you enough time to recover on your side if you need it, without making you feel rushed. I had to swing over to my side a couple of times as being on my back was really sore towards the end.

Good luck with waxing and the imminent arrival of your bubba!

[Taurean]

The midwife said it would increase the risk of infection?! How weird! I got my usual waxing done last week so I'm ready to go now. I get waxed every 6 weeks but like you, definitely couldn't stand the thought of sporting an excessively hairy muff while giving birth - yuk!

I say go for it. I feel so much better (as always) and 'ready', IYKWIM Like Winter said, just make sure the beautician understands how uncomfy and potentially dangerous it is for a pregnant woman to lay on her back so she can do it in stages or prop you up as much as possible.

[Bathsheba]

Midwives have seen it all and won't judge you either way. Waxing does increase the risk of infection as each hair is torn out of it's follicle small capillaries are broken allowing germs to enter and grow forming pustules. Ingrown hairs are also more likely and these too often are a site of infection. Make sure that your undies are not too tight because this can lead to an increased risk of ingrown hairs.

Personally I opted for a trim rather than a wax and I think that is the most common scenario. It can be hurtful to read that your choice to allow hair to grow in that area is "yukky" and it might be more tactful to refrain from posting those types of comments. Lots of women give birth with the natural amount of hair and that's fine... I can understand how it is probably a more "modest" aesthetic to keep some hair... some women feel more "naked" with every fold of their most private parts on display... a bit of hair serves to cover that up.

[Emmykate82]

Thanks ladies for the advice and info. I can see now how it might be a slight risk of infection and yet i need to weigh that up with my own thoughts on being 'neat and tidy' in that area.

Bathsheba, i certainly didn't mean to offend anyone and completely agree that this is a very personal choice with many women feeling sensitive about the issue. Thankyou for reminding us of the need to be more sensitive in our opinions

Well, i may just opt for something in the middle... a bikini/g-string wax and a trimmed 'runway'... just to feel 'tidied up' but not necessarily bare.

Cheers.

[Inanna]

Well I am one of those ladies in the '80's birthing videos!!!

I took no offense but it always makes me giggle that pubic hair is seen as yucky!!! Why is that??? It's part of growing to woman hood and personally I find the brazillian as odd as you find the hair !!!!

It's all good - no birthing assistant would ever judge you on your lack of hair or sporting the full growth of your years. It all works the same hair or no hair!!!

[Janie]

Sorry, but I'm having a chuckle at those who say they couldn't imagine giving birth while being excessively hairy..........trust me ladies, you will not be thinking about that, or worrying about it while you're giving birth! Not saying you shouldn't wax, if that's what you do then go for it. But honestly, don't worry about how you're going to feel about it while giving birth

Deb, that's me too!!!! I don't mind a trim, but I think brazillians are, hmmm, not for me

[feeb]

No midwife or OB will judge or even care if you have all hair or no hair!! It is not a topic of conversation on tea breaks!

Its personal choice, do what feels right for you.

[Turkish Delight]

I had 2 c/s and made sure I was clean for both. I hate the midwives shaving the area were the incision will be made as I would get really embarrased. But that's me. I even waxed myself. Did it myself by sitting infront of a large mirror. I couldn't bear somebody else waxing me!

[smiles4u]

I couldn't bring myself to do my own waxing when pregnant as became sensitive to doing it ... and besides i couldn't see a darn thing past my lovely pregnant belly ... So, i used VEET cream whenever necessary (like especially on my due date too) & it worked wonders, nice no pain

[Bathsheba]

I agree FC and Janie... A Brazillian would make me feel highly uncomfortable long after the rip!

Also I believe you can be "clean" down there and still have your hair

[Taurean]

Its personal choice, do what feels right for you.

Thanks for bringing it back to the point Feeb, I don't think any of us were trimming up for the OB or midwives benefits, at least I wasn't! It's for my benefit for godsake!! I feel yuk with too much hair down there, I'm not saying it's yuk to be hairy, I just don't like it on me! And getting a wax doesn't automatically equal brazillian either - it's a quick way to trim up too.

I am really sorry if I too offended anyone with my comments. I wax every six week to keep things trim all over and have done so for many years. I don't plan on stopping now but more than anything, I'm not doing it to impress those who will be witnessing the birth of my child, that's for sure. I just don't like to be hairy and this is possibly how Emmy feels too.

[MissMagpie]

Hi girls,

Im having an elective c-section so Im just going to "tidy up" down there as a brazillian isnt my thing either

Like smiles, Ive used veet hair removal around the area which worked a TREAT!

[Inanna]

I don't think you offended anyone Taurean -

"I get waxed every 6 weeks but like you, definitely couldn't stand the thought of sporting an excessively hairy muff while giving birth - yuk!"

That did sound like you think it's yucky... That's all good we all have our thing.
I think those that don't wax were sharing their perspective just as those who do were...

[Bathsheba]

You certainly seem upset by my response Taurean I was merely clarifying that it wasn't "yuk" or unclean to have hair down there and I was very careful in my post not to use words that make waxing seem like a negative choice. I certainly avoided being emotional and using words like "godsake" that also could be offensive. I think this thread raises some interesting points and is probably a better discussion if people don't use emotive words when tact should be called for. You say that it is your personal thoughts but the language you used did make a value judgement on birthing with a hairy pubic area

[Taurean]

I don't think you offended anyone Taurean -

"I get waxed every 6 weeks but like you, definitely couldn't stand the thought of sporting an excessively hairy muff while giving birth - yuk!"

That did sound like you think it's yucky... That's all good we all have our thing.
I think those that don't wax were sharing their perspective just as those who do were...

Thanks Flowerchild. I definitely didn't mean to offend anyone and I am so sorry if I did. I think 'my' girls (and other various areas of my body for that matter!) are yuk when hairy but I'm not fussed about anyone elses hair levels, that's for sure!

[Smoke Jaguar]

I am used to a brazilian and in planning water births, I prefer to be 'streamlined'...but I've always liked that non-friction feeling when in water (I've grown up swimming and actually having 'excess' bikini hair gave me no joy at all, then I had the 'excess' lasered and have a far more managable bikini line left to wax) Also, SOOOOO much nicer for horse-riding!
So, if you want it, go for it.
I'm getting mine done tomorrow

[Taurean]

You certainly seem upset by my response Taurean I was merely clarifying that it wasn't "yuk" or unclean to have hair down there and I was very careful in my post not to use words that make waxing seem like a negative choice. I certainly avoided being emotional and using words like "godsake" that also could be offensive. I think this thread raises some interesting points and is probably a better discussion if people don't use emotive words when tact should be called for. You say that it is your personal thoughts but the language you used did make a value judgement on birthing with a hairy pubic area

Can I put it down to 38 weeks pregnant, very hormonal and being quite sensitive at the moment? I just couldn't believe that my comment would be seen as offensive. I am truly sorry girls. I've never gotten angry in a BB thread