pre-delivery "grooming" issue?

ShiphrahPuah · May 17, 2010

In my hospital, we shave women prior to cesareans so the tape over and around the dressing won't stick to the hair and yank it all out when the dressing is removed. Also, for women whose hairline down there goes up pretty far, it's safer for infection control. In the case of an emergency c-section, we sometimes don't have time to shave. We do NOT expect women to shave prior to coming in. However, I would say about 50% or more of our younger patients come in shaved/waxed already, whether coming for a cesarean or a lady partsl delivery. I was a bit surprised at first how many women are groomed this way. I have an odd feeling that it might be an expectation of men (sometimes boys) in their age group. I do not choose to look at p0rn, but I wonder if that is a trend that then has become an expectation? I remember doing a search on the internet after I started in L&D and noticed how many women were sporting the bald look, and I was surprised at the crude comments I saw from guys who do indeed expect that all pubic hair on women should be removed because they think it is gross. So, I am not sure about that specific OB practice that required that of your friend, but I do think in general a LOT of younger women are on that page on their own. I hope it is their own choice rather than a choice to please a pig-minded boyfriend.

allnurses Guide · May 17, 2010

I too think it is generational regarding how many young women actually do this. I'm 52 and an old hippie and would not do this.

But OB's asking them to do it? We don't do that. I can't believe anyone would do this from a medical standpoint.

My first child was born 27 years ago at a private hospital - I had the big shave and an enema and ended up with an episiotomy and stayed 3 entire days for a normal lady partsl birth. .

22 months later in a small rural hospital - no shave, no enema, no episiotomy, and out in about 18 hours.

My last child was born almost 9 years ago and no shave, no enema, and an emergency cesarean. Left in 2 1/2 days.

We don't shave everywhere for an cesarean except for the very top where we put the dressing/tape. No need to go any lower than that.

steph

HeartsOpenWide, RN · May 17, 2010

We shave for C/S just where the tape is going to be. I try to do "maintenance shaving" during the summer; but if I had a midwife or OB "tell me" to shave, I would intentionally not shave at all until after the delivery...I can not believe practitioners are asking their women to shave; especially midwives:nono:

Work in Progress · May 17, 2010

That is really odd. I can't imagine an OB, let alone a CNM telling someone they had to shave or wax- but I suppose it could happen. I think this is definitely a generational thing and yes, I think that men in my age group (mid-twenties) expect women to be shaved/waxed. I have been surprised during my practicum rotation on L&D that pretty much everyone in the 16-30 age group, regardless of culture, socioeconomic status or whatever has been shaved or waxed. I can't imagine trying to shave when I was 9 months pregnant. Never even crossed my mind.

brillohead, ADN, RN · May 17, 2010

I honestly think that it was either a situation where someone's mother/grandmother "warned them" about the shaving at the hospital (so they decided to take the matter into their own hands) or else the woman just felt uncomfortable about it being a jungle down there when (what feels like) hundreds of strangers would be all up in her business.

What I don't understand is why they felt the need to tell the person doing the waxing that they were *instructed* to do so. This particular hairdresser has adopted children, but no biological children, so any knowledge that she has of the birthing process and procedures is strictly secondhand. It sounded like she was talking about half a dozen people who told her this, so it's not just one random incident.

The one thing I didn't ask is if they all used the same OB/GYN, which could make sense if it is an isolated person rather than a standard practice. No, that's not it either, b/c she specifically said "OB or midwife" so it had to be more than just one healthcare provider.

We're a pretty progressive area, with all of the big OB practices in town also employing midwives (I think one has just as many CNMs as it has OBs, in fact!), and we have several doula practices in town as well as a few active La Leche League groups. That's another reason that I just can't believe that women are really being told this... it just doesn't gibe with the whole "birth is a natural process" mindset of our area.

klhmc729 · May 17, 2010

Argh - I'm a regular waxer, but if an OB ever said this to me, they could expect the Amazon rainforest of pubic hair to greet them. I can see shaving if there's going to be tape involved, but someone better have a darn good reason for coming at me with a razor (as if you need razor burn on top of being sore from L&D) otherwise they are going to become one with the Bic... :lol2:

brillohead, ADN, RN · May 17, 2010

they could expect the Amazon rainforest of pubic hair to greet them

:yeah: :lol2: :yeah: :lol2: :yeah: :lol2:

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 17, 2010

I didn't realize most younger women were shaving. Just curious, do they shave EVERYTHING, or just trim or ? Do they shave/wax like a child looks? Or leave some? I obviously have no idea what is in style.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · May 17, 2010

Let me just add that I thought it was awesome that BRILLOHEAD brought up this topic! :lol2:

brillohead, ADN, RN · May 17, 2010

CamaroNurse said:

Let me just add that I thought it was awesome that BRILLOHEAD brought up this topic!

You made me literally LOL!

For the record, the hair on my head resembles a rusted out Brillo pad, from whence the name is derived.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 17, 2010

Thank you for the descriptions! I am not going to google the images. :lol2: I also found it super funny that brillohead brought this up.