pre-delivery "grooming" issue?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Kind of a weird situation, but I was at a party this weekend and (don't ask me why) the subject of shaving came up. One of the ladies is a hairdresser who does bikini and Brazilian waxes, and she said that she had a bunch of coworkers ask her to do Brazilians for them when they were pregnant because "the doctor/midwife told them to shave before the delivery".

???

I thought that pubic shaving before delivery went out of style 20-30 years ago. I even challenged this woman, asking if it wasn't just that these women were self-conscious and *chose* to be "bald" for their deliveries, rather than being "told to" do it by their OB/CNM. When I had my son 10 years ago, there was never any mention whatsoever about shaving from my midwife -- they didn't even shave me for my c-section. Another woman at the party has a 17yo and a 7yo and she was never told to shave by her OB. (all of these births happened in the same town, which only has two hospitals)

When I had knee surgery five years ago, I was very specifically told NOT to shave my leg for a week prior to the surgery, to minimize the chance of infection / microabrasions. I really did NOT want to go in there like a cactus, but at least I could understand the reasoning behind it.

I just truly cannot wrap my mind around this situation... it boggles my mind that anyone in this day and age would consider it "standard" or "necessary" to be shaved/waxed prior to the delivery. I know that more women than ever are shaving/waxing (pregnant or not) just as a personal grooming choice. A guy at the party said his stepmother has been an L&D nurse for eons and she had remarked a while back that shaving has become much more popular in the past 3-4 years.

But I just can't believe that there are OBs (and midwives! I *really* had a hard time believing that a CNM would say this!) out there telling women who are 8-9 months pregnant that they need to shave off their pubic hair before coming to the hospital, or else the hospital will shave it off when they get there.

I figure if anyone will know, it will be you folks here... is this really a standard procedure anymore???

Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.
... just remember when you might be thinking "stallion," we might be thinking "naked mole rat" or "turkey neck and gizzards."

it's going to be very difficult to keep a straight face and not giggle when we get ready for bed tonight!

thanks a heap...:D

did a male sneak back into our online sleepover again?:eek: hope my parents finally went to sleep!:yawn::rolleyes:

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

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did a male sneak back into our online sleepover again?:eek:

he is not just any male. he's a stallion!!!

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

a friend just sent this and it seemed germain to the topic at hand. (:eek: i sounded just like my dad there...)

women who know their place

barbara walters, of 20/20, did a story on gender roles in kabul , afghanistan ,

several years before the afghan conflict. she noted that women customarily

walked five paces behind their husbands.

she recently returned to kabul and observed that women still walk behind

their husbands. despite the overthrow of the oppressive taliban regime, the

women now seem to, and are happy to, maintain the old custom..

ms. walters approached one of the afghani women and asked, 'why do you now

seem happy with an old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?'

the woman looked ms. walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation

said, 'land mines.'

moral of the story is (no matter what language you speak or where you go): behind every man, there's a smart woman

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

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It was a good story Kathy - but did you have to repeat it 3 times? ;););)

steph

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.
it was a good story kathy - but did you have to repeat it 3 times? ;););)

steph

two spare copies vanished with the good old edit key. sigh...:eek:

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, Peds.

John, just something to keep in mind...I'm sure there are a lot of other "stallions" out there who would be happy to pay your wife the attention she wants and don't care about her being as hairless as a 7 year old girl. I sure hope you get yourself waxed as well, I wouldn't want to think you're just a selfish pig.

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Ok, so I have been hesistant to bring this up, but here goes. I am all for "to each his/her own," and if people want to groom down there, it's all good by me as long as they are not getting coerced or manipulated into doing it. I do have a few questions about logistics though for those of you who prefer that. I mean, what about 5 o'clock shadow? Stubble on a face is one thing, but there, uh....ouch. In our younger days, my husband shaved there ONCE. Stubble...tortuous and not at all pleasant, especially the more vigorous things get. I told him NEVER again. So that's on the other person. On yourself, how do you deal with the insane itching? Many of us have experienced that post-delivery and in summer just when trimming up for swimsuit season. All in all, the whole thing sounds very unpleasant to me unless you are a slave to shaving twice a day just in case the mood strikes -- not so good for spontenaity. I'd rather not worry about stubble and having to go at it gingerly. FREEDOM!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Ok, so I have been hesistant to bring this up, but here goes. I am all for "to each his/her own," and if people want to groom down there, it's all good by me as long as they are not getting coerced or manipulated into doing it. I do have a few questions about logistics though for those of you who prefer that. I mean, what about 5 o'clock shadow? Stubble on a face is one thing, but there, uh....ouch. In our younger days, my husband shaved there ONCE. Stubble...tortuous and not at all pleasant, especially the more vigorous things get. I told him NEVER again. So that's on the other person. On yourself, how do you deal with the insane itching? Many of us have experienced that post-delivery and in summer just when trimming up for swimsuit season. All in all, the whole thing sounds very unpleasant to me unless you are a slave to shaving twice a day just in case the mood strikes -- not so good for spontenaity. I'd rather not worry about stubble and having to go at it gingerly. FREEDOM!

Inquiring minds want to know ...

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Ok, so I have been hesistant to bring this up, but here goes. I am all for "to each his/her own," and if people want to groom down there, it's all good by me as long as they are not getting coerced or manipulated into doing it. I do have a few questions about logistics though for those of you who prefer that. I mean, what about 5 o'clock shadow? Stubble on a face is one thing, but there, uh....ouch. In our younger days, my husband shaved there ONCE. Stubble...tortuous and not at all pleasant, especially the more vigorous things get. I told him NEVER again. So that's on the other person. On yourself, how do you deal with the insane itching? Many of us have experienced that post-delivery and in summer just when trimming up for swimsuit season. All in all, the whole thing sounds very unpleasant to me unless you are a slave to shaving twice a day just in case the mood strikes -- not so good for spontenaity. I'd rather not worry about stubble and having to go at it gingerly. FREEDOM!

Perhaps I am the lone waxer here. I agree with the others that it is not right to not do it if it is an expectation, but I do it because I prefer it. The reason I wax as opposed to shaving is because when it grows back it does not itch! No razor burn either. It really does not hurt as much as you'd imagine, if done by someone who knows what they are doing!

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Perhaps I am the lone waxer here. I agree with the others that it is not right to not do it if it is an expectation, but I do it because I prefer it. The reason I wax as opposed to shaving is because when it grows back it does not itch! No razor burn either. It really does not hurt as much as you'd imagine, if done by someone who knows what they are doing!

You are a labor and delivery nurse? Have you come across women who were told by their OB/Midwife to do the big shave/wax for delivery?

Because that is one of the OP's questions.

That has never happened here as far as I can tell.

And it would be wrong to ask that of a woman about to have a baby. Just wrong.

As to the itching . . .it is the growing back that itches - regardless of the way it was done .. in my experience. ;)

steph

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

back to the comic relief. a cousin sent this today. in light of the earlier foolishness posted, i couldn't resist. now i promise i'll try to be good...

the doctor said, "carl, the good news is i can cure your headaches. the bad news is that it will require castration. you have a very rare condition which causes your testicles to press on your spine, and the pressure creates one h**l of a headache. the only way to relieve the pressure is to remove the testicles."

carl was shocked and depressed. he wondered if he had anything to live for. he had no choice but to go under the knife.

when he left the hospital, he was without a headache for the first time in 20 years, but he felt like he was missing an important part of himself. as he walked down the street, he realized that he felt like a different person. he could make a new beginning and live a new life.

he saw a men's clothing store and thought, "that's what i need... a new suit." he entered the shop and told the salesman, "i'd like a new suit."

the elderly tailor eyed him briefly and said, "let's see...size 44 long."

carl laughed, "that's right, how did you know?"

"been in the business 60 years!" the tailor said.

carl tried on the suit; it fit perfectly.

as carl admired himself in the mirror, the salesman asked, "how about a new shirt?"

carl thought for a moment and then said, "sure."

the salesman eyed carl and said, "let's see, 34 sleeves and 16-1/2 neck."

carl was surprised, "that's right, how did you know?"

"been in the business 60 years."

carl tried on the shirt and it fit perfectly.

carl walked comfortably around the shop. the salesman asked, "how about some new underwear?"

carl thought for a moment and said, "sure."

the salesman said, "let's see... size 36."

carl laughed, "ah ha! i got you, i've worn a size 34 since i was 18 years old."

the salesman shook his head, "you can't wear a size 34. a size 34 would press your testicles up against the base of your spine and give you one h**l of a headache."

new suit - $400

new shirt - $76

new underwear - $6

second opinion - priceless

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I've never had a patient tell me that their doctor told them to, but I bet they are influenced by what friends or family tell them. If the subject comes up, I tell them that we definitely do not shave anyone. Except if they need a c/s, we'll shave near the incision site.

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