Why shave before giving birth and how to do it correctly?

Should I shave my bikini area before giving birth?

In ordinary life, not everyone shaves their hair in the intimate area. Today, shaving the perineum is one of the main hygienic procedures before childbirth (especially if a cesarean section is scheduled).

Why do you need to shave the hairs on the external genitalia:

1. Hair in the intimate area accumulates pathogenic microflora, and no matter how a woman washes herself before giving birth, she cannot make her hair completely sterile. During the birth of a child, microorganisms can cause infection.
2. Most often, the delicate skin of the labia majora and minora is torn when the baby's head emerges. It is recommended to apply sutures on a hairless surface.
3. Medical staff carefully monitors the condition of the skin at the time the baby is delivered. Severe whitening of the skin indicates a possible rupture. Dense vegetation in the perineal area will prevent you from noticing such changes.
4. After delivery, a lot of blood comes out of the uterus. Since the hair accumulates bacteria, infection can occur and an inflammatory process can develop.

Despite the fact that gynecologists strongly recommend getting rid of hair in the bikini area shortly before childbirth, the final decision is made only by the expectant mother (there may be some reasons why depilation cannot be done).
But we should not forget that the safe birth of a baby depends on such a simple procedure.

Shaving methods

We found out whether you should shave before giving birth. Photos before and after depilation help you understand what is best to choose to get rid of excess hair on the body. What options for the development of events take place?

At the moment, you can get rid of body hair before childbirth:

• using a regular razor;
• through the use of an epilator;
• waxing;
• sugaring;
• depilatory creams.

What exactly to choose? Below we will consider all the listed procedures. They are not suitable for everyone.

Do they shave in the maternity hospital if labor has already begun?

In Soviet times, there was a loyal attitude towards pubic hair, however, the list of things in the maternity hospital necessarily included a machine that a nurse used to remove hair from a woman in labor. Today this issue is a voluntary decision of a pregnant woman.

A week before giving birth, as well as at the moment of birth, shaving your pubic area can cause serious complications. First of all, this concerns the high risk of infection in the event of a cut. Through small wounds on the skin, bacteria can easily penetrate the body and begin to develop.

Removing hair from the bikini area immediately before delivery is a controversial issue even among doctors. Some require that the skin be smooth, like a baby’s, while others leave the decision to the woman in labor.

Foreign experts on hygiene before childbirth

Should you shave before giving birth? Reviews from local and foreign doctors often differ. Russian experts, as already mentioned, insist on the need for complete shaving of the pubic area and bikini area. What do foreign doctors think about this?

They are more humane in this matter. Most experts from abroad emphasize that shaving the bikini area before childbirth is an optional procedure. At the same time, women are warned that the presence of pubic hair can interfere with complications.

In such circumstances, depilation remains at the discretion of the woman in labor. And that’s why some people shave at home, some in the maternity hospital, and some completely refuse such a procedure.

Is it possible to shave at home if contractions are not strong?

If labor is not rapid, you can start depilation.
Just don't rush or worry. After all, a trembling hand can damage delicate skin. To make the procedure easier, the hair needs to be softened. To do this, it is recommended to take a warm bath and only then proceed with removal.

In addition, all hygiene rules should be observed. The machine must be new and free of harmful bacteria (pre-treat with alcohol). Wash your hands with soap and treat with any antiseptic. External genitalia also need to be disinfected with hydrogen peroxide or Miramistin. Since a large belly will make shaving uncomfortable, it is recommended to use a mirror and a chair to rest your feet on.

When contractions begin, the procedure should be stopped to avoid cuts.

Due to the large selection of cosmetic products and procedures, it is much easier for a pregnant woman to depilate the intimate area, because in addition to a razor, there are many other less safe methods for hair removal, for example, depilatory cream. This method is painless and effective. During the procedure there is no possibility of damaging the skin. To use it, apply a small layer of cream to the disinfected area and leave for 10 minutes. Next, rinse the skin with water, which also removes pubic hairs.

How to safely remove hair yourself:

Of course, you don’t have to think about this issue and entrust the removal of excess hair to a nurse. But most women still prefer to do it at home on their own. This can be done using one of the following tools.

- Shaver

This is the classic and most common way to get rid of unwanted vegetation. Of course, hair grows back quite quickly, but, as was said earlier, a small stubble will in no way prevent the baby from being born. To ensure everything goes smoothly, follow these instructions:

1. Disinfect the blades of the machine with alcohol-containing lotion and rinse with water.
2. Wash your hands with antiseptic soap.
3. Wash yourself with intimate hygiene gel.
4. Place an anti-slip mat on the bottom of the bathtub, and place a small mirror on it so that you can control the process despite your stomach. You can also place a mirror on the cabinet so that it is at the level of your pubic area. If you are confident in your own actions, you can shave by touch, but do it very carefully so as not to get hurt.
5. Apply hypoallergenic shaving foam or shaving gel to your skin. This step is required, as dry hair removal can cause severe skin irritation.
6. Start shaving your hair in the direction it grows. Proceed slowly, stretching the skin slightly if necessary.
7. Remove any remaining shaving product using wet wipes or simply rinse with running water. Treat your skin with an emollient cream.

Important! Do not use aftershave lotions containing alcohol! They can cause severe burning and irritation.

More on the topic

Is it possible to dye your hair during pregnancy?

When can you cut your hair after giving birth?

Hair falls out after childbirth: what to do?

What to do about hair loss during pregnancy?

Why does belly hair grow during pregnancy?

- epilator

Hair removal using an electric epilator is a rather controversial issue: some believe that its use is unacceptable, since the process is very long and painful, while others see no reason to abandon the usual procedure. And they really don’t exist, if you are used to removing hair in this way and are ready to endure a little pain, and the doctor did not express any objections to your desire to use this device.

The advantages of this method are the longevity of the result: the epilator removes hair along with the follicle, which means that the skin will be smooth for 3-4 weeks after the procedure.

• To make hair removal easier, you can soften it slightly with a warm towel.
• Place a mirror in front of you and begin the procedure.
• When finished, soothe irritated skin with a special cream or oil.

Reference! In pharmacies and specialized salons you can find creams that reduce the level of pain during hair removal. If the composition of the product is not contraindicated for pregnant women, feel free to use it for your own purposes.

- wax

Wax depilation is very similar in principle to removing unwanted hair with an epilator. Hair is also pulled out from the roots, not just one at a time, but in a whole layer, using a strip soaked in adhesive wax. The process is quick, effective, but quite painful, which again may not be suitable for everyone.

Of course, if you have some skill, you can do waxing yourself, but given the size of your belly, not everyone can do this. You can ask a close friend for help or go to a beauty salon, where a professional will do it quickly and as painlessly as possible.

What is noteworthy: in recent years, the procedure for epilation of the deep bikini area for pregnant women has become quite popular.

If you haven't shaved and labor starts

There's nothing wrong with that.
After all, childbirth often occurs far from the expected date. With the appearance of the first exciting contractions, the woman tries to get to the hospital as quickly as possible, forgetting about all the procedures that she planned to carry out. The main thing is to take a disposable razor in your maternity hospital bag and notify your gynecologist or nurse about your desire to remove hair from the bikini area.

Shaving the perineum before childbirth is a hygienic procedure that is carried out to prevent infection not only of the child, but also of the mother. Remember this, even though the decision is always yours.

Shaving and the opinion of Russian experts

It is specialists who often help modern mothers resolve the issue of shaving hair in unwanted places on the body. What do they say about bikini area waxing?

Should you shave before giving birth? The opinions of specialists from Russia are similar. They all say that shaving before giving birth is mandatory. Moreover, it is necessary to get rid of the hair “cleanly”.

There is no need to wax at home. If a girl did not have time or did not want to carry out the corresponding procedure at home, she will be helped with this right in the maternity hospital. But, as a rule, for a fee.

C-section

Unfortunately, in the modern world, natural childbirth is not always carried out. Girls can have a caesarean section. This process raises many questions regarding shaving and maintaining hygiene.

Should you shave before giving birth? Caesarean is a surgical procedure that does not involve the baby leaving the birth canal. And therefore, complete shaving of the bikini and pubic area is not necessary.

View gallery

During a caesarean section, specialists usually shave the abdomen (if there is hair on it), as well as the area around the area where the incision is planned to be made. These procedures can be carried out at home if desired.

Doctors' opinions on the need for prenatal shaving

Just a few years ago, the issue of shaving the intimate area before childbirth was not even discussed.

If for some reason the expectant mother came to the maternity hospital unshaven in her bikini area, depilation was carried out by a nurse in any case.

Even if a woman in labor did not want to shave, no one was interested in her opinion. A razor, just like a scalpel, was a mandatory attribute on the medical table in the delivery room.

Today, shaving before childbirth is also advisable, but if a woman does not want to remove hair, no one will force it. No doctor will insist on the need for depilation.

If a woman wants to make the birth process as easy as possible, the best solution would be to listen to the opinion of the gynecologist. The doctor will tell you why you need to remove excess fibers and how this can affect the birth process itself.

Skin care after shaving

Any hair removal, even the most gentle one, is traumatic for the surface layer of the skin. In this regard, after the procedure it is necessary to “remove” the skin surface from a stressful state and relieve irritation.

Skin care

Among the “helpers” there are a lot of medications that can be purchased at any pharmacy. Among the most effective:

• Neosporin ointment – ​​has a preventive, regenerating and wound-healing effect, relieves itching and bleeding;
• Gel "Malavit" - has a cooling effect, relieves burning and itching, and is perfect for combating skin cuts;
• Solutions of “Miramistin” or “Chlorhexidine” - it is important to purchase non-alcohol forms of drugs;
• Cream "Solcoseryl" - relieves skin tightness and discomfort after depilation;
• Hydrocortisone ointment is a strong antiseptic drug, ideal for particularly difficult situations when itching and burning are especially severe;
• Acetylsalicylic acid tablets (aspirin) are a universal and affordable remedy for relieving irritation after shaving. Having ground the tablets to a powder and diluted with water to form a paste, you can apply the composition to the area that you have shaved and gently rub it into the skin. After removing the product, wipe the skin with lemon juice.

If you don’t have any medications at hand, you will probably have some components at home that will be an excellent folk remedy for helping irritated skin:

• Parsley. Not only will it soothe your skin, but it will also help whiten your skin from dark spots. To use, the greens must be chopped and poured with boiling water. After 30 minutes of infusion, filter. Apply a bandage soaked in the broth to the skin for 20 minutes;
• Sour cream with butter. An excellent product for particularly sensitive skin. To prepare the mask, sour cream with a fat content of at least 20% is suitable. 50 gr is enough. sour cream, to which you should add 10 ml of olive oil. The resulting mask is distributed over areas of the skin with light rubbing. After 15 minutes, you can wash off the composition with cool water.

Using the knowledge and recommendations outlined above, you can minimize the negative consequences of hair removal in the bikini area.

Epilator for shaving

Should you shave before giving birth? Reviews that say that this is a mandatory procedure often recommend certain methods for getting rid of body hair.

A fairly convenient solution to the problem is to use an epilator. It is similar to shaving, but is more effective and safer.

One of the disadvantages of an epilator when shaving is an exacerbation of pain. That is why not every woman in labor will agree to such a procedure.

Razor to the rescue

If a woman answered “yes” to the question of whether she should shave before giving birth, she needs to think about how to get rid of body hair. The easiest way is regular shaving.

The girl needs to disinfect the razor, wash her genitals with warm water and hygienic soap, then apply a little shaving foam to the treated area and shave. Doing this over a long period of an interesting situation is more than problematic. This approach is considered not very effective and unsafe.

Where do they shave?

Should you shave before giving birth? This question makes many girls think.

Shaving can mean treating various “problem” areas on a woman’s body. Today girls are depilating:

• armpits;
• legs;
• faces (sometimes);
• bikini area (including deep bikini).

Next, we will consider all of the options listed, as well as advice from women who have recently given birth and doctors. In fact, everything is more difficult than it seems at first glance.

View gallery

Creams and hair

The last solution for those who prefer to get rid of body hair before giving birth is the use of depilatory creams. A fast, safe and effective method that does not involve any pain or damage to the skin.

To use it, you need to wash the treated area, apply a layer of cream to the skin and wait 5-10 minutes. Next, the cream is washed off with warm water, and the hair along with it.

Important: the effectiveness of depilatory creams is controversial. For some, the result lasts for several days, while for others, hair begins to grow after 3-4 weeks.