To wax or to shave that is the question?

[2 please]

Hi girls,

I havent waxed for ages and dont know weather to shave or wax before my due date. Is waxing more painful when pregnant? If I want to shave how long should I wait? If I shave or wax too often it usually causes ingrown hairs.

Pritty personal topic, but since down there will be centre of attention I dont want to make a mess of down there.

All input will be great.

[Heaven]

I don't have any advice, haven't been in that situation.
But I just wanted to say not to worry too much about it. My Aunty is a midwife and she said to me the other day lots of people get brazillians and stuff before birth and she finds it odd because they don't care what it looks like. So...do what you're comfortable with and if you couldn't be bothered don't worry!
I guess if you wax, its pretty soon now and the hairs won't have a chance to grow back so you won't have to do it again and risk the ingrowns?? And maybe the pain will scare him out!! lol. Good luck, and best of luck for the birth!!!!

[Arimeh]

I've been wondering this myself, as I'm usually a shaver not a waxer, but everyone is telling me to go the wax!!!! Bit scary!!!! I'll be watching to see what other people say :-)

[Indadhanu]

Haven't been in the situation but I've read if you shave you have to be careful of infections... not sure how close to the birth they mean...

[Trillian]

Some women do find that waxing hurts more during Af or pg, but not everyone - I found it more painful after being pg. Both can possibly give you ingrown hairs. The advantage of shaving is that you can do it when you start early labour (I did this with my second LOL) so you have no regrowth. The disadvantage of waxing is that you miss your appointment because you go early or you you get regrowth because you go overdue LOL - we can't win either way can we?

I know that the Dr and midwives wont care what it looks like, but you feel so much cleaner down there with your lochia if there is no hair and also if you need stitches it is easy for them to be able to see what they are doing - with my first baby I'd shaved too early and had a reasonable regrowth and the Dr kept pulling the hairs instead of the needle when I was getting stitched (had an episotomy so it was off to the side amongst the hair). HTH

[boomba]

We were told not to just incase an emergancy ceaser is done as they prefer to shave you themselves, to avoid infection!
Honsetly it was the last thing on my mind when I gave birth, but if you will feel better about it just ask your dr if they have any rules !

Good luck x

[AliciaK]

I get regular waxes and found in the last few months I am having trouble with ingrown hairs, which I didn't prior to getting pregnant. I have taken 2 months off, and shaved once during this time - still got the ingrowns, so I am back to waxing next week!! I am going to continue to be waxed though.... DH likes it better LOL.
You can also check with the beautican about waxing when pregnant - mine looks for prominent veins and is very careful around them.

[sassy123]

i shave but it is gettin so hard. last time i cut myself cause i cant see prop over my belly. it is really u to how u feel and wat u can handle doing at the mo. i cant even imagine shavin in the next few days i am too scared im gonna cut myself again. i even asked dp to help nad he just looked at me liek i am a fool lol.

[Phteven]

I's go the wax. I can't imagine being able to shave unless you do it in the mirror - I couldn't even see my pubic area towards the end of my pregnancies.

[shellbell]

I strongly recommend the wax... It is not that painful (most people are pleasantly surprised at how 'unpainful' it is) and lets face it - Labour is going to be even more painful. I actually think it hurts more to get your lip waxed than getting down there waxed... I have noticed though that since being PG there is more hair down there (waxer noticed too!) which makes the process slightly more complicated and that I get more ingrowns.... However I find that there is no itchy regrowth.

I agree (and have heard others say too) that it is much easier to look after "after" if it is waxed so that is what I am going to do!

Kelly did an article on it - which in my experience is pretty spot on!

[dee73]

I get waxed every 6 weeks or so through preg, and was done at 38 weeks with ds1. I find the regrowth much less irritating with waxing, and didn't like the thought of itchy regrowth at the same time as stitches! I do find it hurts a bit more thru pregnancy, but it only hurts for the few mins it takes them to do it. Your waxer should also be able to give you (or sell you!) a cream to stop ingrown hairs. I use one called Bikini saver which seems to work well.

[bellelass]

I shave, I just feel nicer when it is done. I can't see over my tummy, but I've always kind of done it by touch anyway. After you shave, while you're in the shower, use a brush or a loofah or something to scrub your newly shorn skin, it helps cut down on ingrowns a lot. I also usually pat a tiny bit of light moisturizer over my skin right after, or it gets red/too dry.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Next baby, I'm getting a neaten-up wax. Why? Because when they prepped me for surgery I had the worse shave in the world ever - it was awful. I would have liked a bit more explaination! (Bear in mind DS was nearly out at this point so I suppose I would have needed to be cut a bit lower than normal.)

Yes, I know next time I'm having a freebirth, but just in case something goes wrong I just want to retain as much dignity as possible and it just wasn't at all pleasant having that done in the middle of pushing.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Do i really have to be bothered??? Urgh... People in my belly buddies thread were talking about it but i just don't care! Interesting to see what everyone has said thought - good thread

[Langer'sMrs]

Also, thanks for the opinions. I usually wax but haven't for a few months now and keep chickening out because I'd heard waxing is more painful whilst pregnant. I'm now going to bite the bullet and make an appointment. I'm not too fussed what the Drs and Midwives think - I'd just prefer an easier area to look after post birth.
A friend of mine had to move to a chair halfway through her wax because she was getting light headed laying back on the massage table thingy they usually sit you on...just something to think about.

[dee73]

Ask for pillows so you can make yourself comfortable while they are waxing you...

[kirsty_lee]

I had a wax about 2 weeks ago and it was painful because of being on my back.. the waxer couldnt push down hard in certain places cause bubs was lying so low... it hurt but the alternative is shaving which is literally impossible for me at the moment as is leg shaving

[*charmalea*]

wax , or there are fantastic shavers you can get from shaving shops especially for down there , first you trim with a wand type thingy and then go over it with what look like a lint remover .... HONESTLY there is no ingrowns and no regrowth for about 1 week ..

i bought one when pg with ds ... i use it all the time and its so smooth , just like a wax ... only near then end i got dh to shave the bits i couldnt see ... .