Angela Grant Buechner, BA, BScN, RN, IBCLC is a registered nurse, international board-certified lactation consultant, doula, and educator who has been working with new families and babies for over 20 years. She is currently the owner of Nutmeg Consulting in Toronto, Canada.
BuzzFeed talked to Angela to get more information about the topic of pubes and pregnancy.
A quick look in the comment section will show you that many people said they were forced to shave before giving birth. Angela responded to this by saying, "Unfortunately, just because something is still standard practice in healthcare, it doesn't mean that it's BEST practice. There is actually NO surgery where shaving with a razor is recommended anymore, as it increases the risk of infection due to microabrasions."
BuzzFeed also spoke to OBGYN Dr. Erica Montes, MD, FACOG, who has been practicing for 10 years, about shaving before surgery and shaving pubic hair in general.
As an OBGYN, Dr. Montes quickly clarified that TRIMMING is all that is performed before surgery — not shaving. In addition, she said that trimming is only done so there is better visualization for where the incision will be made.
Dr. Montes went on to explain why shaving your pubic hair is not recommended — during pregnancy or really at any point in time. "Some risks with shaving can include folliculitis or infection of the hair follicle. It can also lead to ingrown hairs, which can cause pain and infection of the surrounding skin. Shaving can also lead to cuts in the skin, which can become infected, leading to multiple other infections, especially during sex," she said.
And pubic hair serves a purpose, which is why we have it! "It provides protection against friction that can cause skin irritation, it helps reduce the amount of sweat produced in the vulvar region, it helps regulate body temperature, and it also serves a similar function to eyelashes or nose hair. In addition, it can trap dirt, debris, and organisms. Therefore, it may protect against common vaginal infections, STIs, and UTIs," said Dr. Montes.
All of this being said, Dr. Montes does think that people with vaginas should do what feels most comfortable to them in regards to grooming. "As long as they know the potential risks and they are taking precautions to prevent infections, then that's all we can ask for," she concluded.
And Angela ended by saying that vaginas are meant to give birth, so there is no preparation needed. "Just like vaginas are 'self-cleaning' and don't need extra products or cleaning, they don't need preparation to give birth. People who don't feel 'clean' unless they remove their normal pubic hair may be experiencing internalized misogyny," she added.
