To wear make up in labour or not???

[babyfev]

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

[gwenniebee]

I don't normally wear much makeup and there's no way it would have crossed my radar when I was in labour.

However, I did put my contacts in during the early stages, and I had packed my naice glasses in my hospital bag weeks before :)

[shouldibecrossaboutthis]

Before I had my son I had planned to just put a bit of makeup on so I looked nice in the photos just after birth. I also spent quite a lot of time picking out a tankini to wear when I was in the birthing pool, at home.

46 hours into labour I was completely naked without a scrap of makeup on having washed it all off about 6 hours into the labour and my hair piled high on my head as I was flipping boiling hot.

HTH

[Creamtea1]

Ha ha @ bedhanger!

[FrogInABog]

You will want your hair up, and makeup wise, maybe mascara and foundation if you feel the need, but it will most likely sweat off so avoid eye shadow or eye liner really.

[pumpkinsweetie]

Apart from a little bit of eyeshadow I never bothered as it all gets sweated off anyway. It's better to be eu natural than be covered in mascara streaks and lipstick all over yourself.

[LadyBigtoes]

Some people don't go anywhere without make-up so I can understand why they'd want it in a situation where a LOT of people will see them. I don't wear much generally, but I do get zits and like to cover them up. I went off to both my labours wearing the make-up I'd put on that morning. Of course 12 hours of contractions later there wasn't much of it left!

I actually had both babies by EMCS after long labours, but the second CS was supposed to be elective - I went into labour a week early and missed it. I was planning to wear some nice, flattering make-up to have that ELCS. I wanted it to be a calm, controlled, and less panicky experience than my first birth. Didn't get what I wanted, but it would have been nice.

Agre with others that you look shit after labour and will most likely end up with photos that show this! I have one of me, newborn DS and DP. DP looks lovely, adoring, happy, he had turned up at the hosp after being home overnight and having a rest and a shower. DS of course looks beautiful, and tiny. I look the size of a house, spotty, exhausted, terrible hair, massive double chin and boob hanging out of nightie. :o

Of course the baby is what matters most but I actually think the OP has raised something that does matter. Birth is a time when everything changes, when you go through the most shocking physical and emotional upheaval. It's important to do things that help you "hang onto yourself" IYSWIM and make-up may well be one of those, for a lot of women.

[ExpatAl]

I disagree and think that woman look gorgeous after having a baby. All fresh faced and contented/tired looking.

[LadyBigtoes]

I've seen other women looking like that in their post-birth pics, but I didn't!

[megandraper]

If you'd wear makeup to run a marathon, sure, put it on for labour. You might have it on already anyway - labour can start at any time. You'll sweat it all off before you're done, though

[kellibabylove]

I was applying mascara (waterproof of course!) mid labour just before leaving for the hospital.

[randgirl]

I wish i had.... theres a photo collage in our spare room and one of the pics is of me just after i had ds. Needless to say that i forgot all about that particular photo when dh's collegue who is a bit of alright stayed over as they had a early flight to take the next morning. Dh told me he was having a right giggle at the state of me..........

Hair like bottom of a birdcage, white as a sheet and just generally looking bad .....

A hairbrush and bit of bb cream may be a good idea

[mamalovebird]

Now, I'm the type of person that normally won't even answer the door without a lick of foundation and a some mascara on. I was induced with ds so went in with my normal makeup on the Friday. Come Sunday, after rivers of sweat, puke, drips, epidurals, cuts and forceps I was just glad to still be alive.

Surprinsingly, the first pics that DH took weren't all that bad. Must have had that just-survived-a-blood-bath glow about me

I reverted back to type pretty much straight away though. Was up and face on by 9am every day from day one.

[Teaandflapjacks]

I certainly plan on - I will be tinting eyebrows and lashes ahead, and bung some benetint or lip stick on cheeks etc. I think there is nothing wrong with doing whatever you need to feel good to get through birth! Although I say this I bet it will all go right out of the window at the time, like mamalovebird. I also plan on having an 'emergency make-up' bag in my hospital bag with mascara, pinky lipstick (doubles as blusher if required), pan stick - touch up areas etc. I always wear make up every day - I don't feel properly up for the day without it!

[Fakebook]

When I went into hospital at 11pm with not regular, but pretty intense contractions, I had time to put on some light foundation. Didn't bother with lipstick but when we got in the car I made dh go back inside and get my Vaseline and he kept my lips moisturised throughout labour with a dab every now and then. I still looked very very yellowy pale after DS was born. Then I had a shower, went to bed and woke up at 10am the next morning and reapplied.

I looked like death when dc1 was born and I didn't want that horrible frumpy feeling whilst leaking ever again. just because you have a baby, it doesn't mean you stop looking after yourself. I had a mashed up vagina, but doesn't mean your face has to be like that too. Call me vain, I don't care.

[gillybeandramaqueen]

Hahahaha!! What a brilliant thread!! Tbh, I too was wondering about this. For me though... I think it just stems from wanting it 'all' to be perfect... I've waited so long for this (am nearly 40 and expecting dc1 having met the love of my life 9 months ago)... and know that this will be the most wonderful special day in our lives (espesh mine) and don't want to look too much like shit for the experience, post-birth photos, etc....

BUT then you can't have everything can you?!?

...and anyway... I'm only 22 weeks and I already look like shit/death/horrendous/etc... so god knows what I'll look like when the joyous day comes!?!?!?!!

[dinkystinky]

OP I dont normally wear make up so for me the question is a no brainer. However lip balm for post birth is good as post natal wards can be really stuff and dry.

However, would you wear make up to go to the gym? Giving birth is a sweaty, physical activity - and you have no idea of how you're going to respond to it in advance. By all means take your make up bag with you for photos after the birth, but during the birth, just focus on getting yourself into the getting that baby out zone.

[katieelh]

I didn't have any make up on the first time and in the photos after I looked truly hideous, the next time was an emergency c section so I did have make up on but unfortunately no lovely phots as my babies were whipped straight off to nnicu, the third and final time I was induced with full hair and make up and had a very quick labour and I still have my lip gloss on in the photos.

[Frecklers]

If it makes you feel confident do it! If it runs or smears you can fix it up afterwards! Good Luck!

[limetictacs]

Will the hospital make me take my nail varnish off?? I hadn't even thought about that. I'm not having a planned CS but if I have to have an emergency one will they make me remove nail varnish?

[oscarwilde]

Yes - no nail varnish. They will take it off. No idea what happens if you have gel stuff. Presumably you get a lot of dirty looks as they want your nail beds clear to check your blood is oxegenated (I think)

Best just to have a nice old fashioned mani pedi where your nails are buffed to a shine and cut nice and short so you don't worry about scratching the baby. When you come up for air in 6 weeks you can get your beauty regime back to normal or the new normal

Make up - too sweaty a business and then you need to pack remover too. Get eyebrows and lashes tinted if it's important to you, and possibly a little powder compact to take the shine off but otherwise I would leave it. If you are in for a few days, you can get someone to bring you in a few bits.

Sorry to burst any bubbles but I burst blood vessels in my eyes bearing down during delivery. Mascara going anywhere near my tired sore eyes was not an option. I'd pack some optrex in preference.

[Wuxiapian]

You may sweat. You may cry. You may vomit. You may want to shower. You may want a cool flannel on your face.

I wouldn't advise it.

[harleyd]

if it makes you feel good then do it

[Trishstar]

I wasn't asked to remove any makeup or nail polish for my emcs only jewellery. And even tho I sweat lots in the theatre and after in recovery and the ward, my makeup was still all there!

Depends what brands you use/the quality of your makeup as to whether it lasts.

And although I would have had pics without makeup on with my DS, I'm actually glad I look like myself on the pics!

[ExhaustedMamasita]

If it makes you feel better ? do it! I read somewhere that some women consider it to be like war paint? once it?s on, they?re ready for action! I would recommend wearing the minimal ie. waterproof mascara and tinted moisturiser only though? too much I imagine can get messy and have the opposite effect. And don?t worry it?s not vanity, it?s being prepared. x

[limetictacs]

Oh I hope they don't make me take my nail varnish off. It took bloody ages to paint my toes!