No, routine pubic hair removal (shaving/waxing) during labor is generally not recommended by modern medical guidelines due to increased infection risks, and it's usually a personal choice, with healthcare providers focusing on patient health, not grooming status. While historically common for surgical reasons, research shows no benefit and potential harm, so if hair removal is needed (e.g., for a C-section or episiotomy), it's often minimal, targeted trimming, or done by the patient beforehand if they prefer.
Follow these instructions before surgery:
Do not shave or wax your abdomen, pubic area, or upper thighs for at least 1 week before your c-section. Take off all jewelry.
Sometimes a doctor or midwife may need to make a cut in the area between the vagina and anus (perineum) during childbirth. This is called an episiotomy. An episiotomy makes the opening of the vagina a bit wider, allowing the baby to come through it more easily.
Before a surgical intervention, it is common to remove hair from the area of the body that is going to have surgery. Hair can be removed using different methods, including clippers, a razor, or hair removal cream.
The Royal College of Midwives will tell you that no midwife would tell or expect a pregnant woman to shave or wax her pubic hair before turning up in the labour ward. If you want to, that's fine; if you don't, that's also fine. But, they added, there's no reason to tidy up down there just for them.
It's acceptable not to shave before delivery. Don't worry. Most doctors and nurses rarely notice. They're busy ensuring you and your baby are safe.
The Royal College of Midwives will tell you that no midwife would tell or expect a pregnant woman to shave or wax her pubic hair before turning up in the labour ward. If you want to, that's fine; if you don't, that's also fine.
Plain language summary. Women may have their pubic hairs shaved with a razor (perineal shaving) when they are admitted to hospital to give childbirth.
Long story short, there is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair. There is no medical reason to remove it. And yet, many people feel pressured to shave or wax because of our society's long-standing ideas of gender, beauty, and purity.
Doing so increases the chances of folliculitis or infection of the hair follicles, which can cause a superficial but ultimately problematic infection. Instead, we will often shave the area in the pre-op area or operating room before performing the procedure.
But there are some things you can do to try to prevent tearing:
Fathers often experience a mix of emotions during labor and delivery, including anxiety, helplessness, and profound empathy. While they cannot take away the pain, their presence is a source of strength and comfort.
Up to 9 in every 10 first time mothers who have a vaginal birth will experience some sort of tear, graze or episiotomy. It is slightly less common for mothers who have had a vaginal birth before. For most women, these tears are minor and heal quickly.
One of the things a husband should not do during pregnancy is to leave her without support. Pregnant women need all the help they can get to overcome fear and uncertainties. She needs someone to remind her that she can survive her journey.
The 5-5-5 rule is a guideline for what kind of help a postpartum mom needs: five days in bed, five days round the bed — meaning minimal walking around — the next five days around the home. This practice will help you prioritize rest and recovery while gradually increasing activity.
You do not need to shave, wax or groom yourself differently if you don't want to. Your gynecologist has seen all types of bodies before, and grooming habits will not affect your appointment.
Results We obtained data from 69,920 subjects (52,787 women and 17,133 men). The mean age was 31.9 years for men, and 28.5 years for women. Most women (64.3%) and men (62.2%) preferred complete removal of female pubic hair, and this preference was more pronounced in younger women and men.
However, she has noticed that more members of Gen Z are choosing to eschew body-hair removal—pubes included, as well as leg hair and happy trails.
Some men also develop hair in a straight line that extends from their belly button all the way down to the pubic regions on the lower abdominal region. This vertical line of hair is known as a happy trail. It is called so as women find it attractive and for men, it is a sign of getting mature, older, and hot.
It does not matter to us whether you shave or wax. It is absolutely your preference. However, if deemed necessary during birth, we can always do that at the time.
In fact, hospitals used to shave your pubic hair for you—and in some areas, they still do. “Shaving before labour was once thought to reduce infection rates,” says Toronto OB/GYN Dayna Freedman. But medical advice advances with research.
If you are a first time parent, you can follow the 3-2-1 rule = consistent contractions every 3-5 minutes, for 2 hours, lasting 1 minute or more. If this is a subsequent pregnancy, you can follow the 5-1-1 rule = consistent contractions every 5 minutes or less, for 1 hour, lasting 1 minute.
The Full Moon is a newer style that's been growing in popularity over the past year or two. The look entails removing the hair from the sides, top, and back while grooming and waxing the hair at the front of the pubic mound into a circle using a stencil and high-precision waxing techniques.