We’ve heard that some OBGYNs will advise against shaving or waxing down there for at least 30 days before your due date to avoid the risk of infection. Others have no issue with it, kind of like the whole solids vs. clear liquids during labor debacle. It all depends on your doctor.

Again, your over-sensitive pregnancy skin will thank you. While waxing is generally considered safe, the microscopic tears left by pulling out hair leave you a little more vulnerable to certain bacterial and viral infections. Contact your doctor if you notice any signs of infection after a wax.

At-home hair removal methods, such as shaving, plucking, or waxing, are usually safe for pregnant women. Learn more about waxing during pregnancy. Keep in mind that your stomach skin may be more delicate and sensitive than usual, so make sure to follow up with a moisturizing lotion to prevent irritation.

Overall, hair treatments are generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. However, you may also consider getting highlights or using pure vegetable dyes. Regardless, your safest option is to wait at least until after the first trimester, if not until after pregnancy.

In fact, hospitals used to shave your pubic hair for you—and in some areas, they still do. “Shaving before labour was once thought to reduce infection rates,” says Toronto OB/GYN Dayna Freedman. But medical advice advances with research.

Yes, childbirth is painful. But it’s manageable. In fact, nearly half of first-time moms (46 percent) said the pain they experienced with their first child was better than they expected, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in honor of Mother’s Day.