PRIORITIES, PEOPLE

Wildreemer is having a baby tomorrow via a scheduled c-section. Clearly, she has a lot on her mind. Really important stuff, too. Stuff that requires some brainstorming from the Internet.

And I'm curious as well. How did y'all handle the...uh...pre-birth grooming aspects of...things?

The first thing I did after realizing I was honestly and truly in labor was jump in the shower -- since I wasn't sure when my next chance at clean hair would be. I managed to shave most of my legs by lying down in the tub and attempting some REALLY ATTRACTIVE gymnastics (hey everybody, let's whalercise!), and flew dangerously blind for the...uh...other areas.

(Hi! And welcome to Oversharing Day at Mom's Daily Dose!)

Since I ended up with an emergency c-section, I had an extra lovely shaving session at the hospital, but I can happily report that the nurse used shaving gel and I don't remember having any razor burn afterwards. Although possibly I was simply too distracted by the GIANT GAPING HOLE IN MY STOMACH to notice.

What say you, wise mothers of the Internet?

Comments

[heather]

Ha! I knew I was going in to be induced so I showered and did full-out (albeit natural) hair and makeup. And to this day I can happily look back on those pictures instead of hiding them because I look so awful. The advice I give to all my pregnant friends is to spend a little time fixing yourself up - you won't be sorry. Vain? Maybe. I prefer to think of it as part of the ongoing fight the frump campaign.

[Rosiebn]

I'm due in March, and I've already told B that he has to help me pretty up down there when the time comes. Until then, I'm just going to let the forest grow. I just realized last night that I can no longer see anything below my belly button.

[Type (little) a]

Well, I tried to keep up with the ahem, shaving. That is, of course, I cut myself because I couldn't see! Fortunately, I was seeing the OB once a week, so she told me to quit it with the razor.

SO I went and got a Brazilian. Talk about interesting positions!

[jane]

Nothin'. Seriously, when the nurse lifted my gown before my emergency c, she said "Huh. These days I don't really have to shave very many women." Well! Nine months pregnant, and I was supposed to be trimming and edging? Feh.

[Heather]

Jane, I can't believe she said that! boo!

[wilddreemer]

WAIT it gets worse, I have one of those stand up showers that is also CLEAR ON ALL SIDES so i can't sit down, lay down or do anything crafty and anything I try and do my husband will have full view of. sigh

[wilddreemer]

And also, every time Amy mentions my name and acknowledges my existence I think I have a mild freak out because OMG AMY KNOWS WHO I AM! i can't get to excited though or i'll pee myself again and my goal for the day is no pissing myself!

[Dooneybug]

This is just too funny. With my first, an unexpected c-section, they just shaved me in the OR with an electric razor. With #2, a planned c-section, no one ever asked me to shave ahead of time and so I didn't worry about it. I honestly can't even remember getting shaved although I know I was (curses to re-growth!) so I guess they just shaved me up in the OR again. I've heard that many doctors prefer you not to shave at home because of nicking yourself and causing infection where they are going to be working.

[Bunny]

Yikes, I had NO IDEA you had to be shaved for a C section. Isn't "down there" not really where the doctors will be?

[wilddreemer]

bunny seriously i totally agree i dont know why they need to shave that and it drives me nuts..grrrrr

[Amy Jo]

I had been getting waxed on a regular schedule, but then my trusty russian grandma aesthetician refused to wax me after 36 weeks.

[*pixie*]

Bunny and Wilddreemer—They only shave the very top area. I was induced so I showered and blindly shaved the best I could. When it came to the point of me having an emergency c-section the nurse came in and just shaved the top. I joked to her that she could neaten it up and put a flower or some other design down there. It wasn't like bushlady, but you can only keep it so tight when you can't see ANYTHING.AT.ALL.

[SnarkyMommy fka Sprengblingbling]

With the Problem Pregnancy, I had my cerclage removed at 36 weeks, so the day before, I got waxed. When I was induced two weeks later, things were still nicely groomed.

This time I plan to follow the same path.

I also got a mani and pedi the night before I was induced and showed up to the hospital with flat-ironed hair and full makeup. No lie -- when they told me it was time to push, I asked for my hairbrush so I would look good for the pictures afterward. And I did, if I do say so myself.

[Katie]

I'm so glad I read this site now so that I can scoop up all of this wonderful knowledge before I have kids. Hopefully I can convince my husband to buy me laser hair removal before we get pregnant and then I won't have to worry about the whole wax and razor bit.

[wilddreemer]

with my last section they shaved WAY more then the top part...i was mortified!

[Christine]

She should BEG her husband to help her out. The nurse shaved me... cheap, plastic razor, no water or shaving cream. not only did I have the worst razor burn of my life, my skin was bleeding!!! Seriously, the next day, the razor burn hurt worse than the c section cut!

[Antique Mommy]

I thought that was the benefit of being pregnant is that you didn't have to shave anything you couldn't see.

[jennifer]

ummmmmm I had two c-sections and wasn't shaved for either of them... not a bit... weird!

[Amy H]

LOVE this site because this is definitely a topic I am in need of help on. My first was an emergency c and I didn't know that shaving was involved. When the nurse did it I was mortified. Now with the second one planned in March, I will know to shave on my own--ahem, with water and shaving cream thankyouverymuch--before heading to the hospital. Waxing scares me a little. I hear it hurts worse than childbirth. is that true?

[kr]

I made my hubbie help -- and he was great. We actually went for the home nair treatments, and it was great.

[Andrea]

With my first, I put my husband on routine "maintenance" once I could no longer see or reach. It wasn't really something I had to talk him into, once I began to describe the fear of having some strange nurse doing it in case of a c-section. Then, I just said "razor burn" to him and he complied. I'll be 32 weeks tomorrow (8 weeks left) and I'm getting to the maintenance point again. Time to make my request.

Plus, I told him this is just part of his duties as my birth partner, to help me NOT be embarrassed about it when the rest of my dignity will take a vacation anyway once the magic starts.

[Jaime]

Apparently I am the only woman left in North America that only shaves her legs and armpits. Shaving elsewhere before I give birth would be the last thing I would think of!

[Michelle]

Ten days before my (scheduled) C-section, I had a "day of beauty" that included hair cut and style, waxing of unwanted hair everywhere, massage, manicure and pedicure. It was very, very expensive and very, very worth it. The morning of I took the time to blow dry and apply natural-looking makeup. I still look tired and a little scared in all the pictures, but I don't think anything would cover that up!

[divrchk]

Are you relocating this blog when it's gone in January or is it just going to combine in with Amalah?

[Jenny H.]

Um, yeah. There was very little grooming going on down there. Hello! I was HUGE! Both times, but especially with my second.

I could have cared less. By the time I was in labor with either child, you could have paraded the Pope through there and it would not have fazed me in the slighest!

Is that weird?!