Do I need to shave my hair for a caesarean section?

Before women enter the delivery room to give birth, doctors will ask them to shave their pubic hair. Some women will shave it themselves at home. Many people are particularly confused and don't know what the purpose of shaving the pubic hair is, because pubic hair is easy to accumulate bacteria, which may enter the female vagina and cause gynecological diseases. It is easier to disinfect after shaving the hair. So is it necessary to shave the hair for a caesarean section?

Why should you shave your pubic hair?

Shaving, scientifically known as "skin preparation", refers to the ward nurse removing sweat hair from the surgical area from below the patient's sternum to 1/3 of the thigh one day before the operation. In fact, it is to apply mild soapy water on the expectant mother's belly and upper and middle thighs, and then use a disposable skin preparation knife to shave off the body hair.

The skin is prepared because the hair underneath is prone to breed bacteria, which is not conducive to the healing of the mother's wound. It is not just hair removal, but also the cleaning of the body surface of patients who are going to undergo surgical operations, including thorough washing of the skin.

Why do you need to shave your pubic hair during a vaginal birth?

As mentioned earlier, skin preparation is different from daily hair removal and shaving. Its ultimate goal is to clean and disinfect the skin to avoid interfering with surgery and postoperative healing. There is a certain probability that mothers who give birth naturally will undergo a vaginal episiotomy to avoid perineal tearing. At this time, skin preparation and adequate cleaning can not only reduce the bacterial content of the skin, but also reduce the probability of infection of the postoperative incision.

Is it necessary to shave pubic hair during caesarean section?

A caesarean section only involves cutting the abdomen, but it has to scrape so many parts of the body. The doctor explained that whether it is a natural birth or a caesarean section, the skin must be prepared for postpartum disinfection. In addition, the mother may need to insert a catheter and drain lochia after surgery, so hairless hair is easier to clean and more hygienic.

For the health of mother and baby, don't be stubborn when you need to cooperate with doctors and nurses. Do these preparations before skin preparation:

1. Clean your entire body with a warm shower before and after skin preparation. Avoid taking a tub bath to prevent bacteria from ascending through the vagina and causing infection.

2. After showering, put on clean clothes and never apply skin care products.

3. If itching occurs after skin preparation, massage the skin with the tips of your fingers, but do not scratch it with your nails.

If you feel uncomfortable after shaving your pubic hair for a short period of time, you can apply some ylang-ylang scented massage oil to soothe the skin in the pubic hair area to the greatest extent.