[Aura_Kitten]

i was googling info on checking dilation by myself at home.... and stumbled on this site of "suggestions for labor partners."

it has a chart that goes

WHAT'S GOING ON? | HOW IS SHE FEELING? | WHAT SHOULD SHE DO? | HOW CAN I HELP HER?

in the "beginning of labor" section, under "what should she do?" it lists, among others...

Take a shower, wash hair, shave legs

so.... women need to be clean and well-shaven before the birth?

in the from 4-7 cm section, it stops recommending that women *eat* and begin only saying that they should *drink*.

during pushing, it says women should keep their eyes open. WHAT? if a woman is most comfortable w/ her eyes shut, meditating, visualizing, or whatever, how is that a problem?? in what the labor partner should be doing it says, "Remind her to keep her eyes open" ????!!!???

only in the "recovery" section does it recommend that women eat and drink again, noting that she'll probably be feeling very hungry and thirsty.

what a ridiculous site.

i just had to share it + vent a little.

 

[Greaseball]

What, they didn't suggest "paint toenails"? Some women actually do this as soon as labor starts!

 

[Kiki Runs]

My MIL is very proud of the fact that after her water broke at 2AM with DH, she shaved her legs before they "rushed to the hospital". WTF? If you really had to "rush" to the hospital, good thing you took the time to shave your legs!!

Now, I will admit that I shaved my legs during early labor, but it was for ME, not the doc's benefit. I couldn't stand my legs to be unshaved during pregnancy, even though it was quite the gymnastics show for me to shave.

My toenails, on the other hand, I couldn't even begin to see. Never crossed my mind to paint them - I couldn't even cut them!! :LOL

Kinsey

 

[clewal]

I wanted my legs shaved before I went to the hospital. I remember standing in the bedroom, ready to leave, and telling my husband I had to shave first. It was a big deal for me, I didn't want to have my baby with stubbly legs and armpits. I shaved right before I had my c-section, they told me to take a shower and I shaved in the shower.

With my daughter, since I took three baths that day and a shower (to help with back pain) I shaved during one of those because I didn't want to have stubbly legs again.

 

[applejuice]

Women are said to have some kind of nesting ritual that manifests itself by cleaning the house up before the baby comes.

But shaving??

I remember getting my hair cut short so I could just focus on my baby when it came.

 

[Mamid]

I think the "shave the legs" thang is because for many women it will be days before they have a chance to do it again. And like the sick little old ladies, a healthy young woman worries about her legs being unshaved. For little old ladies, you can tell how they are doing by whether or not they have their lipstick on. If they don't, they are _very_ sick. If they do, they are not as sick or on their way to recovery.

But still.. who gives a crap? Why not just shave your puss too!

:

 

[Aura_Kitten]

Quote:

But still.. who gives a crap? Why not just shave your puss too!

why not? well... i can see my legs.

i don't mind that women are out there shaving their legs when they're in labor ~ if they want to, great ~ but it bothers me that it's listed under something the woman "should" be doing.

Quote:

... a healthy young woman worries about her legs being unshaved.

i take issue with this. i'm quite healthy and most of the time i find it more beautiful for a woman to be hairy. there are some exceptions but almost always, i find more beauty in a natural, hairy goddess than a shaved, primped beauty queen. (the only reason i've been shaving lately is because it's been so darn hot here and my sweat gets stuck in my hair and makes me itchy.) this strikes me as when i was told by an "expert" in psychology that the fact that i like to shave my head is an indication that i'm "severely depressed." i.e., i think it's complete BS.

 

[Raven]

Well I think its dumb to be listed under what women "should" be doing during labor...

And the "keeping your eyes open" think irks me too.....

I see it like this... each labor is different; each woman is different. While there are certain things that may help a lot of women to integrate with her labor - these things should not be conveyed in a forecful way. "remind her to keep her eyes open" thats just dangerous b/c it is sending the laboring woman the message that her instinctive reactions are not what she should be doing.

JMO...

 

[Aura_Kitten]

Quote:

"remind her to keep her eyes open" thats just dangerous b/c it is sending the laboring woman the message that her instinctive reactions are not what she should be doing.

ITA

IMO women should be encouraged to follow their instincts and trust their body.

 

[grnbn76]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven way. "remind her to keep her eyes open" thats just dangerous b/c it is sending the laboring woman the message that her instinctive reactions are not what she should be doing. JMO...

ITA. In fact, this reminds me SO much of my mother.
She gave birth to four children, and never saw even one of them until they were about 10 minutes old. Her natural, instinctive reaction was to close her eyes when the first contraction hit!!! My father still talks about how she always looked like she was asleep until she actually started pushing.
My first child was the first child she saw being born. And even then, she had to remind herself to keep her eyes open!

 

[mirlee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamid I think the "shave the legs" thang is because for many women it will be days before they have a chance to do it again. And like the sick little old ladies, a healthy young woman worries about her legs being unshaved. For little old ladies, you can tell how they are doing by whether or not they have their lipstick on. If they don't, they are _very_ sick. If they do, they are not as sick or on their way to recovery. But still.. who gives a crap? Why not just shave your puss too! :

I did.............. I shaved everything.............. :LOL

Okay, so I was really huge and had to have help, but I figured I probably wouldn't be able to do any of it for the next two months.

 

[greymama]

Quote:

But still.. who gives a crap? Why not just shave your puss too! :

I was considering getting a brazillian wax when I was 8-months pregnant with DS. Having the same thoughts now that I'm pregnant again. Don't know why, I can't even see down there.

 

[fourgrtkidos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by klothos i don't mind that women are out there shaving their legs when they're in labor ~ if they want to, great ~ but it bothers me that it's listed under something the woman "should" be doing. i take issue with this. i'm quite healthy and most of the time i find it more beautiful for a woman to be hairy. there are some exceptions but almost always, i find more beauty in a natural, hairy goddess than a shaved, primped beauty queen.

But, we must fit into our societies ideal of a perfect and beautiful woman................

Why can't there be value on a woman "as she is" instead of how well she fits into a men dominated ideal? That isn't even ideal? Why isn't the partner focused on the woman and the wonderful feat she about to bring about?!!?! On the should do list: should read. Encourage the woman. Tell her how beautiful she is, the power of creation coarsing through her!!!

 

[2+twins]

Yeah, that was a stupid thing for the article to say. Even so, I'm among those who just *had* to shave in early labor.

: Well, honestly I didn't really have much of an early labor with my 1st but it was really important to me to shave - I'm just like that. If I'm not shaved, I feel dirty. I don't think it's a man thing that's making me feel that way - it's just me. I'm a neat freak. But for my 2nd, there was simply NO TIME! She had to be born amongst my stubble. She (and I) survived it though.

:LOL

 

[BoobyJuice]

Makes me think of my MIL. With her 3rd, she'd been out playing in the yard barefoot with her first two when she went into labor. She *had* to wash her feet in labor before going to the hospital so the dr wouldn't see her with dirty feet. Sounds OK - but she was in such hard labor she ended up delivering in the corridor. They didn't even get her into a room!

 

[TiredX2]

I shaved in early labor (or lack of early labor w/DD) and if a woman has decided she *wants* to, that is definately the time to do it.

ANother look at the "open your eyes" thing--- if the woman *wants* to see (in a mirror or whatever) the birth, yeah you might want to remind her. I didn't get to see DD like that at all (or DS for that matter) and I really wish I had

But, there are no "musts" with labor

 

[Mary-Beth]

I personally choose to shave too but I'm surprised its mentioned like this. It didn't occur to me to shave with either of my labors. And I have no idea of the status of my leg hair during labor- I was kind of busy! I have a feeling my midwife didn't notice either as she was too busy serving me drinks and just supporting me in all the special ways a good midwife supports a woman in labor.

 

[*Erin*]

that's wretchid. ugh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greaseball What, they didn't suggest "paint toenails"? Some women actually do this as soon as labor starts!

*ducks*

i did...

 

[plantmommy]

Now that i've stopped laughing at the whole idea...

ok, I did do a serious muff trim, because, you know, I felt like it, while I could still see it! :LOL Sort of paying hommage to what got me into this situation.

Still, that's a bit different. Think about it! Sharp objects, wet skin, contraction... uh, I think not.

 

[momto l&a]

I am an earliy labor shaver, cant stand prickly legs. But to tell all women they should be doing all this is rubbish IMO.

I say to do what feels right for YOU.