“Pubic hair is there for a reason and enables the absorption of sweat and bacteria in the area,” she says. Halliday does note that shaving could slightly increase the risk of infection. But, otherwise, the hair, or lack of, you have on your nether regions makes no difference to midwives or the birth procedure.
Never mind that the Royal College of Midwives has repeatedly stated that there is no need to do so, that no health professional will even notice and that pubic hair will have absolutely no effect on your baby's health. If you need a C-section, they will shave whatever needs to be shaved.
In previous years, traditional childbirth recommended hair removal on the pubic area before delivery. However, modern childbirth finds that it's not necessary to shave your pubic hair before delivery. Clinical research shows that shaving or not shaving pubic hair doesn't necessarily affect birth.
When should pregnant women stop shaving? There is plenty of guidance provided online and by nurses that suggests that pregnant women shouldn't shave beyond 36 weeks gestation. This is because shaving pubic hair can increase the risk of infections during labour.
“Routine perineal/pubic shaving prior to giving vaginal birth is not recommended,” they say, the concern being for nicks and scrapes potentially being a trigger for infection. They also make it clear that whilst the situation for C-sections is different, it's ultimately a woman's choice.
Though some moms-to-be may be concerned about pubic hair grooming as a way to keep an infection at bay, a But a Cochrane review of medical studies on pubic shaving and birth found no evidence that removing pubic hair ahead of delivery reduces risk of infection during birth.
Pubic or perineal shaving is a procedure performed before birth in order to lessen the risk of infection if there is a spontaneous perineal tear or if an episiotomy is performed.
A professional salon wax or sugar wax may be the better hair removal option for your bikini line during pregnancy. Make sure the salon you choose is clean; the technician should wear gloves and use a new spatula between applications to prevent sharing germs.
Prepare your skin
You need to stop shaving or waxing your pubic area or bikini line at least 1 week before your caesarean birth. This reduces the chance of infection.
It's no longer standard procedure to shave pubic hair, because it could permit unwanted bacteria into the body. (Nor should you shave or wax your own bikini area or abdomen right before a scheduled C-section, also due to the infection risk.)
You're Less Likely To Get Rashes
If you don't shave, those things aren't really a possibility anymore, leaving you and your lady parts in peace. Indeed, Dweck listed infected hair follicles (folliculitis), rashes, and irritation (razor burn) as some of the most common issues she sees from patients who shave.
Midwives take care of all the clean up before they leave, including the house, the birthing person, baby and laundry.
It is generally considered to be safe to get a Brazilian wax while pregnant. While your skin may be more sensitive, and you should always tell your technician that you are pregnant, even if you think it's obvious, there is no medical reason to avoid a Brazilian.
We've heard that some OBGYNs will advise against shaving or waxing down there for at least 30 days before your due date to avoid the risk of infection. Others have no issue with it, kind of like the whole solids vs. clear liquids during labor debacle. It all depends on your doctor.
Many OB/GYNs will tell you not to wax close to your due date because of the risk of infection, and some hospitals, mine included, prefer to do a clean shave themselves.
Pregnancy hormones are what cause women's hair to change during pregnancy. Specifically, increased estrogen levels alter the natural hair cycle on your head. It can affect every woman differently, which is why some women experience thicker, shinier hair and some experience limper, thinner hair.
Sugaring is entirely safe when pregnant, so you can keep on coming in for your scheduled appointments as you normally would. Even if you haven't tried Sugaring yet, some women choose to START sugaring when they are already pregnant.
Yes you can use it during pregnancy. Even if it enters in the private parts it will not create any problem apart from slight irritation. It is safe.
Braids or twists: braiding or twisting your hair may make for a style that lasts through labor and birth. If you can braid or twist your hair yourself, it might make for a good early labor project—that is, something to do when your contractions haven't picked up yet.
Pubic Hair Trends
Also, 3% of women and 21% of men had never removed their pubic hair. Lesbian women reported slightly more often than heterosexual or bisexual women. Bisexual men were most likely to go hairless.
Symptoms usually go away within a couple of days. If you notice continued discomfort after a few days or if parts of the area get redder/more irritated, be sure to check in with your health care provider (HCP). They may recommend that you try an over-the-counter topical medicine such as hydrocortisone cream.