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Pregnancy

To wear make up in labour or not???

85 replies

babyfev · 15/05/2013 13:50

This might sound bad and Im sure when im in labour my priority will not be how I look! However I always feel more confident and with my makeup on and hair done, am I being completely ridiculous even thinking about putting makeup on for labour?

What did you do or have you thought about it? xx

OP posts:

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Dildals · 15/05/2013 14:29

I would bring a make up bag for afters - I wouldn't want to look a shock in the photos me and the kids will be looking at for the next x years!

kotinka · 15/05/2013 14:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OnlyChicaInDaHouse · 15/05/2013 14:30

I went into labour 2 weeks early on a Friday night and had just done my makeup since we were going out to a restaurant as our last little treat before the baby was due (I was 2 weeks overdue with DS1 so NOT expecting to go into labour early).

Anyway, it was a really quick labour so by the time we got to hospital DS2 was ready to make an appearance. After he was born I needed stitches and as we were waiting for whoever was to come along and stitch me up, all the hospital staff had a good laugh that I had come in all made up!!! They obvs thought I was so vain I had gone and got myself fully made up in between contractions. I still had my highlighting powder on my cheekbones and extremely long lashes on (as well as my bra and going out top) as there was no time before DS2 arrived!

Mind you, I do look better in the photos of DS2 just being born than the photos of me with DS1 so if it makes you feel better then go for it.

You won't care if anyone comments on you wearing makeup when you are in labour anyway. Personal decision. I am glad I had my makeup on - had I known I would go into labour that evening, I might have held back on the false lashes and mascara though :)

Wishwehadgoneabroad · 15/05/2013 14:30

Someone else mentioned about the sweats! I forgot about that.

Just before I actually managed to get an epidural, I literally was pouring with sweat. I doubt even Estee Lauder Doublewear would have survived it hehe. Plus DH was mopping my brow - literally with ice cold water on a flannel.

Take the make up with you for afterwards

Congrats and good luck!

MarianaTrench · 15/05/2013 15:00

If you have a section you're forbidden to wear make up or nail varnish. I looked grim when I went in and after haemorrhaging a litre of blood I looked half dead. I hadn't taken make up in with me but got my sister to bring it in the next day.

ninja · 15/05/2013 15:01

My sister had her eyelashes dyed for birth so she wouldn't have to bother with mascara!

MildDrPepperAddiction · 15/05/2013 15:06

Some hospitals don't allow it. They use your skin tone, lip colour, finger/toe nails etc as checks in case something were to go wrong (hopefully wont for you). How are they to check if your lips are blue etc if you're made up?

It will be the least of your worries at the time anyway

usernamegoeshere · 15/05/2013 16:06

I put some light make up on while waiting to go hospital after my waters broke, my contractions were 7 minutes apart so in between I was just getting ready, that said though, I had a tricky labour in end and afterwards was kind of in a daze and don't think I even saw a mirror for at least 36 hours. I requested no photos of me though, only baby!

Franykins · 15/05/2013 16:12

I wear make up every day not over the top but I just don't like myself without it even though DP partner always says I look lovely without it.

I have been wondering about this as well for labour but was aware it can be a hot sweaty affair (even though this is my first) as I was there for my sister with her two. I have decided that I will not wear face make up just a bit of waterproof mascara and am going to put make up wipes in my hospital bag in case I go into labour with a full face, i'd rather not have any on that the streaky faced panda eyes look

Creamtea1 · 15/05/2013 16:41

It's not ridiculous at all, ignore negative posts op. all I did was make sure I put a daily make up on each morning as the d-day got nearer - I'm not much of a foundation wearer but bit of bronzer, always eye make up and hair straightened even if tied up. And kept on top of leg and underarm shaving! even after that I still looked pale and rough in all the photos but at least I gave it a shot. I hate going eye make up free anyway so would feel wierd going anywhere without it - unless I know I can keep my sunglasses on, maybe with this baby I could try that?

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 15/05/2013 16:44

Waterproof mascara.

themilkmonster · 15/05/2013 16:53

I usually wear make up every day but didn't bother for labour as I figured I wouldn't care about my face and I was right! I was induced, and DD wasn't born for two days so imagine I would have looked a right state of I'd have bothered as I was seriously in too much pain to have thought about touch ups or anything during that time. I got by with a tin of Vaseline for my dry lips from the gas and air.
I did pack a few bits for afterwards, just a little mascara, mini concealer etc, but I was so tired afterwards that I didn't bother using any of it. I looked like utter shite afterwards though so banned any photos being taken of me. In hindsight I wish I would have made the effort to fix myself up a little afterwards as I wish I had some pics of DD & me when she was first born.

MarianaTrench · 15/05/2013 18:33

I have no photos of me and my DC just after birth, can't say I'm bothered as I know I looked horrendous.

LynetteScavo · 15/05/2013 18:46

Yes, by all means, put make up on for labour. Put make up on between contractions if you want to.

Just don't expect your lip gloss to stay intact until your baby pops out.

MrsGubbins · 15/05/2013 19:19

black and white photos are your friend, I edited all photos taken of me to b&w after having DD as my face was pillar box red for days after some v strenuous pushing! no amount of pan stick would have blended it away! didn't happen after DS but I didn't have to push so hard 2nd time round as I recall!

Springforward · 15/05/2013 20:24

If it makes you feel better, why not? YY to waterproof mascara though.

Am thinking of getting my eyelashes dyed next week (38 weeks) as I know there'll be little chance of doing my face once DC2 arrives.

babyradio · 15/05/2013 20:47

I already know I'll be in hospital for up to a week so I'm definitely taking my makeup bag in... it has five items in it and is hardly excessive.

Lots of women feel uncomfortable at 'normal' times having photos taken so for the sake of five seconds with a bit of tinted moisturiser where's the harm? It's hardly neglecting the baby. My boyfriend isn't able to be at the birth so he will only have photos and I'd rather not look horrendous in ALL of them!

Waterproof mascara is now on my shopping list... :)

Letticetheslug · 15/05/2013 20:48

believe me, no-one will be looking at your face!

EleanorFarjeon · 15/05/2013 20:54

I was going to post hahaha.

But then I remembered I had a pedicure and leg wax and a brazilian before my labours...

But I wore no makeup.

My face looks fine in my post baby photos, but dh snapped away while I was still naked, so I can't exactly share them with anyone.

themilkmonster · 15/05/2013 22:18

My DH sneaked a photo of me whilst in the middle of labour, clutching the gas & air nozzle. I think even if I was wearing make up I still would have looked horrendous! Needless to say I won't be sharing that photo with anyone, ever!

babyfev · 15/05/2013 22:23

It's really interesting to see what different women would do,I think with me being fair and having blonde eyelashes I might take the advice of tinting my eyelashes just so I feel that tiny bit better and I've heard lip balm is a must as your lips can get dry from the gas and air(not sure of anyone else has heard of that). I will take some tinted moisturiser in for the pictures after the birth xxxx

OP posts:

ballroomblitz · 15/05/2013 22:29

Omg milkmonster my mum was in the labour ward with me and has exactly the same photo, clutching gas and air with a pained expression upon my face.

All well and good to wear make-up if they don't decide to come before you do. I started labour the night before my cs. Of course I had it all planned out I was going to shave, do my nails, do my hair that night. Thick and fast contractions and make-up was the last thing on my mind. In fact I laughed after what I packed in my labour bag.

I looked horrendous after labour, but not as horrendous as my first dc cs. You can always cut out your bit out of photos (red blotchy face) and concentrate on the dc anyway.

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ballroomblitz · 15/05/2013 22:32

That made no sense. if they decide to come you think they're meant to I meant to say

Ilovestackingcups · 15/05/2013 22:34

If wearing some makeup makes you feel more 'you', I'd go down the tinting/dyeing route to make sure you feel good in the few days post birth. With a new baby, I don't think I managed to drink a cup of tea whilst it was still warm, let alone even consider dusting off the makeup.

As for the photos, I had been up for a good 8 hours before my 24 hour labour kicked off. I then had an emergency transfer of 20 miles at blue light speed, arrived at larger hospital just in time to give birth 20 minutes later. What did my face look like? Bloody relieved DC1 was finally here!

BedHanger · 15/05/2013 22:41

Hmm, so maybe if I'd worn makeup during my second labour, no one would've noticed that I pooed on the bed?

:o

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