Vault: Do pregnant women shave before giving birth?

The Bert Show tackles a surprisingly candid question: should pregnant women shave before giving birth? A listener, Claire, reveals she’s three weeks from delivery and struggling to envision how she’ll achieve a clean-shaven look—especially since she can’t see or reach the area herself. The hosts and callers dive into the practical, emotional, and even absurd dimensions of the topic, debating whether it’s necessary, who should do it, and whether it’s even possible. While some argue for a full shave for hygiene and comfort, others question the logic—especially when the baby is the priority. The conversation spirals into hilarious anecdotes: husbands reluctant to wield razors, friends asked to do the job, and even a roommate who once found a guy grooming his girlfriend in his bathroom. One caller reveals hospitals sometimes do it for you with electric trimmers. The episode ends with a surreal twist: a sponsor ad for ASR promoting the Avondvierdaagse, a Dutch walking event, delivered in broken Dutch and English, underscoring the show’s chaotic, offbeat charm. The real takeaway? It’s not about hair—it’s about control, intimacy, and the bizarre rituals we perform when facing the unknown. The episode reveals that while the idea of shaving before birth may seem trivial, it’s actually a proxy for deeper anxieties about bodily autonomy, vulnerability, and the loss of control during pregnancy. The hosts don’t offer a clear answer—because there isn’t one.