To wax or not to wax!

[Taurean]

Hi all

Just another thought about whether to have one or not. Even if you are a long time waxer (if thats actually a real word ) would it be more painful closer to birth given that a lot of women experience swelling in the area (due to I think extra blood flow)?

While I don't get brazillians done I do get waxed every 4-6 weeks and am now trying to time my next tidy up so will be as neat as possible for birth. Have been wondering if it would be more painful - normally doesn't hurt atall as I've been waxing for years and years.

Can anyone give any insights into what their past experiences have been?

Hi Hon. I'm a 'long-time-waxer' (LOL) and had my bikini line trimmed up a week ago. I was 37+4 and didn't find it any more painful at all. Actually, I haven't found waxing any different at all during pregnancy but I've never been overly bothered by it, I don't find it that painful.

[Now we're 3]

Thanks Taurean - good to hear - just need to work out the timing now

Funny thing that I've found during pregnancy is that hair growth seems to have slowed quite a bit - most certainly my legs where there has practically been none - not complaining but had actually assumed it would have gone the other way - like my head hair (my hairdresser told me when I went to her a few weeks ago that it had grown like weeds - just as well I know her very well and wasn't insulted.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Agree with Taurean - it's more a timing issue for me because there is no 'pain factor' to think of after doing it so long Feels the same! I guess the difference is for the therapist dealing with bits that change shape with the swelling from extra blood flow, and as a PP said, the change in temp for the same reason.
I opted for the 35 week wax because I'm not sure this one wants to cook for 40 weeks And if it does, then at least the hair won't be long and I can self-epilate easily by myself again (was too long this time to tackle alone!).
Oh, and ingrown sicho sorted out today - all smooth and bump-free down there (below the bump, that is...ahem...)

[Gigi]

it does seem that the majority of people on bb regard pubic hair as not natural, something to be gotten rid of, not clean etc.

i believe in personal choice, and my choice was to leave things alone.

My homebirth ended up being a emergency c-section in a hospital, with glaring lights, and ten strangers staring at me on the operating table, after two epidurals, i just didn't care anymore.

but just before the emergency c-section, it did cross my mind, would a midwife come along and shave off my pubic hair, as part of prepping me for a c=section? but that fear was unfounded, nothing happened. The c-section is WELL above where the pubic hair is.

i trim to suit myself, but i don't regard my pubic hair as scary or unclean. I found it much harder to trim when there was a big pregnant belly in front, and if i can't see what i'm doing, that sounds too risky to me, so i left it alone.

Hadn't paid it much attention, and then i started reading all these thread titles about "waxing for delivery", that's the only time i felt weird.

i would hope there would be room on this forum for varying points of view.

I could not bring myself to put the harsh chemicals in products like Veet, near my body, especially when pregnant. i don't trust the ingredients. That's my personal thing.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I can understand the reaction a lot of BBers have had to reading this thread.
Regardless of how you feel about pubic hair, the OP is a waxer and was asking those who do wax how they have experienced waxing to be closer to term. So, the people who have responded about their experiences are bound to be in favour of waxing in general for themselves
No, I don't think it's tactful to say that having pubic hair where it is supposed to grow is 'yuck' (and I don't actually believe this myself), and I think it's ok to have a discussion about what our waxing experiences in late pregnancy have been and our reasons for going the wax (beyond personal 'yuck' factor!). I've already explained my own partiality and don't wish to justify it any further.
I use a Mooncup and I like to talk about it (he he - it's fun to just 'drop it in' there!), and I don't become offended when others scrunch up their faces trying to imagine this way of acknowledging femininity, I just let the notion sink in and do what it's going to do. I've come to think of using disposable pads as disconnected (no to mention bad for the environment!), yet I completely understand the power of social conditioning.
It's neither natural nor unnatural to remove body hair, pubic or otherwise. It's preference and in most instances in our society, it's expected. For me it has become preference (like I've said, for horse-riding and how I feel when I'm in water) and I'd rather let my underarm and leg hairs grow as they wish and still get my brazilian! I'm not one for pandering to the aesthetics of others so as to conform to an ideal and mortified my partner two summers ago by not touching my underarm hair and insisting on wearing boob tubes (it was so amusing to see his reaction every time!). I'm also one who has a good smattering of white hair in my dark brown head of hair that can be quite visible...and have not succumbed to dyeing it for the sake of dyeing the white hair (it's white, not grey - it's a genetic thing on my dad's side) out. Everyone else I know would dye and that's fine. If I decide I want to change my shade, in general, then I"ll do it and meanwhile, my white hairs remain. See? Just my preference and not a judgment on those who dye or don't dye
So, I value the input of those who have posted about their hairy comfort, those who 'trim and tidy' (according to their own ideas of 'tidy', as they may be) and those who prefer nothing there as a maintained state of being epilated.
What I'd be sad to see is posts to justify a position and suggest that one state is 'better' than another for aesthetic or principled reasons, either way. And I seriously do not believe that this is what the OP intended to ask for, even though some responses reflected this, initially.
My name is Mayaness and I'm a brazilian waxer

[Emmykate82]

thanks Mayaness...

just to reiterate... i titled this to wax or not to wax... as i was interested in both opinions with regard to pregnancy and birthing... more on a health/hygeine/infection risk level.

yes i am a waxer... albeit not a regular one. i love my brazilians.. but at the same time if i dont have the time or can't afford it, i am more than happy to let it go for months and just trim. i dont do it for anyone else's benefit... DH doesn't care either way... i just suit myself...but i wanted to check about the risk of infection after waxing, particularly with regard to any perineal tears/stitching or wounds that need to be kept clean after birth etc

i have a very broad mind and encourage everyone to voice their opinions and personal preferences... there is no right or wrong answer here and no-one should feel judged because of their choice 'to wax OR not to wax'.

[berrme]

but just before the emergency c-section, it did cross my mind, would a midwife come along and shave off my pubic hair, as part of prepping me for a c=section? but that fear was unfounded, nothing happened. The c-section is WELL above where the pubic hair is.

Just wanted to say that my pubic area was shaved for my emergency c/s. My scar is hidden by my pubic hair now. I did consider shaving before my vbac just in case, but decided i really couldn't be bothered. I guess the placement of your scar, and hence the requirement to shave depends on your ob?

[Taurean]

Well I've had my little girl now (so in love!) and I thought I would post again to say I am SO pleased I trimmed up before the birth of Izzy.

I found during labour it was actually 'nice' to be trim down there as I had so much fluid and blood loss that it just felt a little 'better' (cleaner, if that's possible!) in general but more than anything, it was so much nicer to cope with all the blood loss after her birth! No one can prepare you for the blood loss following the birth of your baby and having less pubes made all the difference for me. It was bloody enough down there without a mass of hair being covered in blood too. The trim down before our daughters birth was a fabulous move for me but as we all know, it's a very personal choice however keep the blood loss in mind.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Congratulations!!
I agree - I found it was easier to deal with having no hair to deal with because I didn't feel as sticky and wet, therefore, didn't have that desperation for a shower when I got caught up in the feeding and settling.
Have fun with your new one

[Taurean]

Congratulations!!
I agree - I found it was easier to deal with having no hair to deal with because I didn't feel as sticky and wet, therefore, didn't have that desperation for a shower when I got caught up in the feeding and settling.
Have fun with your new one

That is exactly how I felt! Personal preference but I believe it made a difference to how comfortable I felt each day.

Having a wonderful time being a mum although Izzy is a bit of a night owl. Sleep deprivation is hell but so worth it