Many women worry about how they’ll look ‘down there’ during birth and want to do some maintenance, which can include shaving, waxing or trimming.
If you’re worried about how you’ll look, keep in mind:
Midwives and doctors see a lot worse things during birth than a bit of pubic hair. They get to see poop, blood, mucous plugs, discharge, amniotic fluid and placentas.
It’s completely up to you if you want to wax or shave when the date for labor is fast approaching. However it’s important to keep in mind that:
- Skin can be more sensitive during pregnancy, so hair removal is more likely to lead to sensitivity or rash.
- You run the risk of ingrown hairs, or cuts and abrasions, which will just add to the discomfort during labor.
- Some hospitals now inform women that they should not do hair removal within a certain time frame before birth due to ingrown hairs or risk of infection. Depending on the type of birth, the guidelines for this vary between 5 days or up to 4 weeks before elective birth or due dates.
- During many c/sections, the entire pubic region isn’t shaved. In many cases only the top area near the pubic bone is shaved with a razor and in some cases, the natural hair is left in place and surgery is performed without any shaving.
Susannah is a certified Birth Doula through Childbirth International and the founder of Trimester Talk. With a background in journalism and digital strategy, she combines evidence-based research with real-world knowledge to create accessible content about pregnancy and parenting. She’s a mother of two and stepmother of two more, all of them now teenagers.