To wax or not to wax!

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?!?! :confused:

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 :lol:)... 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?

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! :D

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.

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.

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.

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

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!!! :lol:

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 ;)

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

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.

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!

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 :rolleyes: ... So, i used VEET cream whenever necessary (like especially on my due date too) & it worked wonders, nice no pain ;)

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 ;)

:

---

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.

Hi girls,

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

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

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...:hug:

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 :(

:

---

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...:hug:

---

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! :lol:

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 ;)

:

---

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

:lol: I personally am not too worried about how I look "down there" because I cannot see anything :rofl: I have always just gone for the trim and shave thing myself but I haven't so much as done my legs let alone anything else in months - yes I am totally ferral :lol: I have asked DH to help with the trimming but until he does I am not gunna bother.

As for waxing - I am one of those people that has a problem with someone else doing that, I have tried doing it myself but ended up with monster bruises and I hate in grown hairs with a passion. Its not a modesty thing its just someone I don't know being soo darn close to my bits really :rolleyes:

Maybe go for an airstrip so that you feel better about yourself down there but the areas close to your vagina do not have the open pores or ingrown hairs iykwim??

Nae x

oh what have i started :)

i think it is clear that everyone's thoughts are different, but at the end of the day we all agree that it is a personal choice. i think we are all just trying to give our thoughts on what 'we' prefer.. but i'm sure none of us are fussed or passing judgement on the choice of others. sometimes the way we write things can be misconstrued because there is no intonation...which i'm sure is the case here.

the issue for me was more health related... is it really a bad thing to get waxed? i know some ppl hate the look, the feel, others love it.. for me a brazilian is just about easy maintenance..but i'm not really that fussed about not getting it done if it is a bit of a health hazard or is going to impede healing of any tears etc.

That's ok Taurean. And maybe today I'm being a bit too sensitive ;) We all have our reasons and preferences and that's ok. I grew up with a very judgemental mother when it came to body hair. She was very vocal and used to publically tease me and she even bullied other women by calling them unclean etc if they didn't shave the parts of their body that she shaved. My mother couldn't stand the fact that the lady next door didn't shave her armpits. She used to gossip about her to anyone who would listen and even used to cut out deodorant ads and put them in her letter box. the woman didn't smell, she just chose not to shave. I felt soooo sorry for this woman and it's really stuck with with me. Mum also made fun of my hairy legs etc when i hit puberty. So I guess I'm super sensitive to any perceived attack between women regarding body hair. I just didn't want this thread giving me "mother-flash-backs" :redface:

ETA: yep, the thread title is "to wax or not to wax" and I thought both tactful opinions were welcome.

:

---

sometimes the way we write things can be misconstrued because there is no intonation...which i'm sure is the case here.

---

Yes, this is very true. Hopefully we're all on the same page now (and I've managed to back myself out of my comments, LOL!)

:

---

the issue for me was more health related... is it really a bad thing to get waxed? i know some ppl hate the look, the feel, others love it.. for me a brazilian is just about easy maintenance..but i'm not really that fussed about not getting it done if it is a bit of a health hazard or is going to impede healing of any tears etc.

---

I honestly wouldn't have thought that it would be a health issue being waxed but maybe Bath is right, due to the increased likelihood of ingrown hairs. Might be best to double check with a beautician to be sure. My beautician has several pregnant clients at the moment and hasn't mentioned it being an issue and I did discuss it with my OB a while back too and his words were 'do what you like down there' so he wasn't concerned at all. Ingrown hairs can be nasty and do get infected so if you're prone to them maybe a trim with the scissors would be a safer option. I'm not really sure though :dunno:

:

---

That's ok Taurean. And maybe today I'm being a bit too sensitive ;) We all have our reasons and preferences and that's ok. I grew up with a very judgemental mother when it came to body hair. She was very vocal and used to publically tease me and she even bullied other women by calling them unclean etc if they didn't shave the parts of their body that she shaved. My mother couldn't stand the fact that the lady next door didn't shave her armpits. She used to gossip about her to anyone who would listen and even used to cut out deodorant ads and put them in her letter box. the woman didn't smell, she just chose not to shave. I felt soooo sorry for this woman and it's really stuck with with me. Mum also made fun of my hairy legs etc when i hit puberty. So I guess I'm super sensitive to any perceived attack between women regarding body hair. I just didn't want this thread giving me "mother-flash-backs" :redface:

ETA: yep, the thread title is "to wax or not to wax" and I thought both tactful opinions were welcome.

---

It's any wonder you made the comments you did then and rightfully so! I'm so sorry you had to go through that and completely understand why you would be sensitive to these things AND supportive of women with hair. Thanks for sharing and sorry you had to in order to get your point across. I remember my mum telling me to 'suck my tummy in' several times during early puberty and I strongly believe to this day it's why I'm so paranoid about my stomach and weight gain in that area (Oh, except for now. I quite like the excessive tummy I'm sporting right now, LOL). I love my mum to bits but some mums really don't realise how those sort of comments during puberty really can affect us girls for life.

:

---

I'm not saying it's yuk to be hairy, I just don't like it on me!

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.

---

Totally agree. - I too have waxed everything for the last 10 years so being pregnant wasnt going to change it for me! I had my last wax 3 days before i gave birth :) - do what's comfortable for you :)

:

---

:lol: I personally am not too worried about how I look "down there" because I cannot see anything :rofl: I have always just gone for the trim and shave thing myself :lol:

---

It was the last thing on my mind because i couldn't see past my gorgeous (miss my prego belly) belly :p!
I say it's a matter of choice and last thing i think about is people's preference on downstairs grooming.

Veet is amazing!

I am not a waxer myself as I am MEGGA hairy and have been told by a beautician not to bother! I just opt for the trim....

I DID however, wax prior to having DS nearly 2 years ago (and that was the last time :)) and was told not to do it too close to giving birth because of infection. I did it a couple of weeks before my due date and he ended up being a week overdue too (so I'm pretty sure it was back to messy down there, although I couldn't see it). I guess once the hairs are ripped out of their little follicles, they are left OPEN and all the goobies that go on down there at the time of giving birth could get in maybe!?

I normally get the landscaping done when I can and I go the full hog...however I am ALWAYS warned afterwards not to DTD for 24 hours after due to the hair follicles being left open and at risk of infection...so bearing this in mind it actually crossed my mind to NOT have it done before heading off to give birth because I always have that risk of infection warning in my mind....I will get a trim but that will be about it :)

I've always had a g-string wax and got one a week before my due date. Not because I cared what anyone else thought, but because I knew once DD arrived it would be the last thing on my mind and it may be a while before I would have time to get waxed again. However DD arrived 12 days late so I don't know why I bothered, I was right back where I started from! :rolleyes:

where exactly can you use that veet cream??? i'm not very hairy on the map of tassie part, but the hair underneath really annoys me, its probably more where my thigh joins my hmmmmm, bits.... right on the knickers line in the underneath section and backwards to my bum.... could i really use the veet cream there? wow. i hate getting waxed so this could be an option. veeters please reply!

Aaaaahhh I was so worried that I would go into labor before I got my wax done, or worse have my waters break while I was getting a wax... I ended up going for a wax at about 38 weeks because I thought that it would help me feel a lot more comfortable bearing my bits on the big day. I didn't get a brazillian though, just a tidy up, because I figure that if I had to have stitches (any even if I didn't) things would be pretty tender down there and the last thing I would want to do is exfoliate. In the end I had an emergency CS, I didn't exfoliate for three or four weeks after (I was too scared to) and ended up with a couple of nasty ingrowns so I'm glad I didn't get it all done cos I think it would have been much worse.

I agree with waxing because I want to feel as nice as I can during a pretty hard time! If I don't get the chance to wax I will quickly trim (or DH will do it cause I can't!) in the shower just so it's tidy. It's part of my big tidy up before baby comes anyway!

i wont wax (mainly coz i couldnt bear the pain) maybe after childbirth ill give it a go ;)
im a shaver normally but the last few months have let it go :redface: i probably wont shave before she's due, just get DH to trim it with a pair of clippers, mainly coz since its been such a long time sincxe i have shaved ill probly end up with ingrown hairs, and if not that the itching will drive me insane and its something that i dont want to have to put up with around that time lol.
I dont think hair is bad, its all personal choice.

Hi :D

This is such a funny discussion..I only say that as I have just gone and had what is called an extended bikini line for the first time. Someone gave me the link in a another thread I am in I had posted what I had just done. I have had two previous births with stitches and the bleeding is quite heavy and usually get a tidy up only. A friend reccommended an extended as she said it was a bit easier after birth if you have stitches and also for the bleeding..

My beautician was very aware and had the bed up on an angle so I wasn't flat..I would pass out if I lay flat on my back at the moment. I remember the first time with my 1st DS...I was actually due and she said she could tell as the temperature in between your thighs increases? She was very serious :lol:

Good luck with your decision....my husband was very funny. I told him what I had done and he asked "did I do that for the OG?":ROFL:..so I had to explain why :D

Heather

I think some people decide they should start just before they have a baby as their bits will be on display more than usual and getting waxed when you haven't done so before is more of a problem than getting your usual wax done close to your due date. New waxers are more likely to get ingrown hairs etc and have a tender area for longer than seasoned waxers.

I am not a waxer myself, but do whatever makes you feel better before and after labour. You really won't care during it. :D

Yeah, I don't think I'd recommend a new waxer begin just before birth! Unless they had a container of MooGoo Post Wax cream ;)
Even then, I have got an ingrown now from a wax from months ago that's been refusing to come close enough to attach...and I'm a brazilian waxer from before DS's birth! It's the first real ingrown problem I've had there since I was a teenager (had an abcessed follicle in the 'crease' that joins the thigh on the front of the pubic bone and made wearing conventional undies very uncomfy!).

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 :D) 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 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 :D) 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.

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 :D - just as well I know her very well and wasn't insulted.

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...)

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.