Are you supposed to shave before giving birth?
Matthew Wilson
Updated on January 04, 2026
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.
Why do they shave you before giving birth?
Shaving for birth used to be something that the nurses did to you when you arrived at the hospital. As doctors and midwives realized that there might be a purpose for pubic hair in preventing infection, this practice died quickly. The majority of women were really relieved.Do I need to shave my pubic hair before labour?
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) told us that no midwife would tell or expect a pregnant woman to shave or wax her pubic hair before turning up on the labour ward. If you want to, that's fine; if you don't, that's also fine.Should we remove vaginal hair before delivery?
Shaving pubic hair in the early stages of labour is a standard procedure in most hospitals in India. It is done for both vaginal and caesarean births. It is believed that shaving the pubic hair makes birth more hygienic and reduces the chances of infection. However, there is not enough evidence to suggest this is true.Do midwives care about pubic hair?
Doctors, nurses and midwives deal with vulvas and vaginas all day long, and trust us—they literally don't care AT ALL if you look “cleaned up” down there. Of all the useless things that I worried about before labour, getting a bikini wax was high on the list.Should I shave or wax before delivery?
How can I remove hair from my private part during pregnancy?
Go through the methods below and choose the one that works for you.
- Waxing. Visit a spa or buy the wax and let your partner help you with it. ...
- Cream. This method is quite simple and painless. ...
- Shaving. Shaving is a safe way of removing pubic hair. ...
- Trimming. Another effective way to get rid of pubic hair is by trimming.
How should I wear my hair for labor?
6 Great Hairstyles for Labor and Delivery
- Pixie cut. A cute pixie cut is a great option for a fresh look for labor and delivery. ...
- Braids. Braided styles provide a lot of options for expectant mothers. ...
- Waves. ...
- Micro bead extensions. ...
- Twists. ...
- A wrap.
Do doctors shave you before surgery?
We mentioned that surgeons do sometimes shave their patients before a surgery is performed. In these cases, surgeons will typically use an electric razor instead of a traditional razor. Electric razors help avoid the presence of micro-abrasions as the hair is removed, thus keeping the infection risk very low.What happens if you don't shave your pubic area?
Infections. As mentioned above, pubic hair serves a protective function by trapping pathogens that could otherwise enter your body. Removing pubic hair may therefore make a person more susceptible to common infections, such as UTIs, vaginitis, and yeast infections.Do you shave your VAG when pregnant?
safely? In short, yes. Pregnancy causes a spike in hormones that kicks your hair growth cycle into overdrive, so you're getting more by week 20 than ever. Removing it, whether you're carrying a human in your fetus or not, is just a matter of preference.How do you shave in third trimester?
Shaving tips when pregnant
- Always use a sharp, clean razor blade. ...
- Use pregnancy-friendly products. ...
- Do it sitting down. ...
- Use a mirror. ...
- Trim and tweeze what you can't shave. ...
- Moisturise and hydrate.
Do they shave you before C-section?
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.) Any hair that might get in the way of the incision is clipped.When should you not shave down there?
If there is an infectionWhether is a yeast infection, bacterial vaginitis, or something else, you must avoid shaving down there. Shaving can spread the infection. In fact, you need to notify your doctor about the same.
How do you shave at the hospital?
Shaving with a standard razor
- Wash the face with warm water to soften the hair.
- Apply the shaving cream.
- Shave with the direction of hair growth. ...
- Press the razor firmly, but not too much. ...
- Use short strokes, and be careful around the Adam's apple, mouth, nose, and chin.
- Rinse the blade after every few strokes.