Did You Get "Dolled Up" For/after Labor?

I recall, after a baby was born, wanting to wash my face and comb my hair when I could do those things, but I didn't worry about "dolling up." This is one of those occasions when a big smile is all you need to look good. And everybody else will be looking at the baby, anyhow. :^)

I took a shower before Ieft to go to the hospital, and another before I left the hospital with my daughter.. That was the extent of my caring about appearance, and I think I cared more about if I smelled than how I looked.. LOL

Yea, I didn't care. I am amazed when I see those that look so done up after labor! I also didn't want/invite visitors as that was the time for us as a family. Granted, I don't get dolled up for much, so I may be a bit biased, but I would just do what you are comfortable with. If you might want to, bring the stuff along, and you can decide at the time.

I bathed, but nothing else -and that was for me! I didn't care or think anyone else would have since I had just given birth. I have to be honest -whenever I see hospital pictures of a new mom with hair and makeup done, I REALLY roll my eyes! It looks a bit ridiculous IMO.

I went to the hospital both times freshly showered and hair done but no makeup because I knew I would look like a raccoon by the end of the process. But, after delivery, at first chance I did get up and shower and do hair and make-up. Wasn't trying to impress anyone, it just made me feel better :-)

I didn't care at all. No makeup :) I didnt care

I don't usually wear makeup anyway, but when I was in labor, that was the LAST thing on my mind! I guess if you're having a hospital birth with an epidural, you may a little more energy to think about that :) I took a shower shortly after both my kids, but didn't even dry my hair, so my pictures are pretty crazy, too, but like you said, I had my babies, so that's all that mattered. You may plan something now and have it completely fly out the window when you're actually in labor and immediately after :)

I'm due in about 4 weeks, and I definitely won't be putting on makeup or doing my hair for labor! Depending on the length of the labor, you're probably bound to end up looking not so picture perfect as planned anyways. No one expects you to look good in an after-birth picture with your new baby, so I'm just going to go with the flow. There's plenty of time for pictures after you feel better and feel the way you look. I'm not trying to impress relatives or friends, I just want to focus on the new bundle of joy :)

Dolled up for labor? Hahahaha (sorry) no. I was busy having unmedicated births, doing hard work, who would I be getting fancied up for? It was hot, dirty work but I loved every minute of it. After, I didn't do visitors, not for a few days, either with my hospital birth or my home birth.
Good luck!

This reminds me of when was in early labor how my friend wanted to paint my toenails, or give me a special treat. Luckily, my labor was fast, so we missed out on that! See if one of your friends can help you with a home mani/pedi, or get a quick haircut (since you might be homebound for a while). Not to say you have to look good for any visitors, but at least when you get home and wake up for 2am feedings, you can still feel pretty :) Or get some fun, quirky, girly hairbands in the hospital for a quick hairdo. I'm sure you didn't look horrible - you had the tired, happy mama afterglow.

Uh----in a word...no.
I have O. child. I did shower and wash my hair and applied a little makeup before I went to the hospital but looking at the pictures--I definitely don't think it qualifies as "dolled up"! lol

I look terrible on all my pictures that were taken immediately after birth , but I think this is all part of the process and even though I am a complete mess , I don't care , I felt like a had been ran over by a bus and then had it reverse back over me again , and how I look on the pics portrays that....no-one sees them except myself and my husband so who cares.

I had 3 labors with baby boys who decided when it was time, we were coming out fast!!!
Never had time for meds, epidurals, no notice, anything.....Labors were only 2 to 2.5 hours each time, but very painful without meds.
I don't think the hair/ make-up thing crossed my mind one second. And afterwards, when it was all over, I was so happy babies were healthy and the pain had subsided, that I didn't care how crappy I looked.

And I was in/ out of the hospital so fast, I didn't have visitors until a few days after we got home.

With my first, I remember showering to help get through the contractions, but then in the shower the contractions were so close together that I was like, oh no, have to get to the hospital NOW, so I don't think that I had time for makeup. The baby was born at 2:30 am, and I was so pumped and excited to see my little boy, that I think I just look joyful in the pics and I don't think I look terrible even though I have no makeup on and maybe I would think that if the adorable baby wasn't distracting my attention (the only thing I regret is that in some pictures that my mom and I showed people, my nipple is hanging out! Darn nursing night gowns!)

With the second, my water broke, it was 3 weeks early and I didn't even have my bag packed. I honestly can't even remember if I took a shower, let alone brushed my hair and put on makeup! I had plenty of time at the hospital, but I was so concerned about the baby (I couldn't feel any contractions) that the thought didn't even cross my mind! Again, I was thrilled to have my baby boy (this time it was in the late afternoon) that I didn't care one bit what I looked like! Though I think this time we weren't too focused on the camera (poor second child) - we were more concerned about getting our older son from school to meet his new baby brother.

Now I'm on the third and again I think what I look like is going to take a backseat to having a healthy baby. You will glow and smile from ear to ear when your baby is born and that will def. bring out a beautiful you in the pictures!

I haven't read the other answers yet.
Showers are always good.
Shampoos are good.
Maybe even ask a sister or friend
to do something "cute" w/your hair.
Make-up?
PUH-LEEZ.
Good grief!
gma S.
who thinks cosmetics are an enormous boondoggle/swindle
foisted on brainwashed women who really ought to know better by now

I did my make up, but just washed/brushed my hair. I brought my make up case with me, but didn't bring my hair dryer/straightener. This was after my delivery. Before my delivery I had showered and put in my foundation, powder, and did my eyebrows, but didn't put on my eye makeup. It was storming outside and I wanted to get on the road because I knew it would take longer with accidents and such (i drove myself, and the hospital was 30 minutes away).
I had a dr's appointment at 8am, so I figured while I waited at the hospital for them to check and see if I was dilating (got there at 4:40am) I would do my make up so I was prepared for my doctors appoint. I didn't have any pain, so I honestly wasn't expecting for then to keep me. 35 minutes later I was holding my baby. =)
It's a routine for me, and makes me feel good. I took a shower about 3 hours after delivery, and did my make up. I didn't know my co-wrokers sister had delivered and was in the room next to me until my co-worker passed by and saw me standing up, doing my make up. She giggles and yells "What are YOU doing UP and I can't believe you're putting on MAKE-UP?!?"
So yes, I did. i wish I would've done more with my hair though, I just threw it back in a clip. I think it depends on how you feel and what your used to. Have a happy delievery!!!

I have a funny story about this. So, the short answer is YES, for my delivery I "dolled up" with hair and makeup but tried not to look like I purposefully dolled up for the occasion, you know? So I waddle into the hospital in labor, only to find out that I am 1 cm only! I was monitered for a 2-3 hours and then released after I neither dilated nor contracted very much. Come back when your contractions are 5 minutes apart, they said. As soon as I got home, I was so exhausted, I threw off all my preplanned dolled up outfit and slept right on it, in my bed. Did not wash the makeup off, nothing! Several hours later, I awoke with serious contractions. I labored and labored, and finally when I couldn't take it anymore I again waddled into the hospital. By this point, my dolled up outfit was all wrinkled from me having slept on it, my makeup was all runny, my hair was all over, I had no gloss on, and overall, I looked like a hot, messy, MESS! I was so embarrassed but at the same time, a little amused by how horribly sour my plan to get "all dolled up" went. So, my first pics of me in my hospital gown, I looked terrible, but, again, I am almost proud of my look -- that was me, warts and all! I mean, what do you want from me, they don't call it LABOR for nothing! I will always look at those photos and have a story to tell my kid.

Will I try to get "dolled up" again for my second? Yeah, probably, LOL! But I really wish that we moms didn't have to worry about that kind of stuff. It's already tough enough, carrying, laboring, breastfeeding, the whole thing.

For me - prior to labor (actually put makeup on during the beginnings of my contractions) and after having the baby I still showered, did my makeup and my hair only because that's me. I was raised to always look my best if others will be around. But I did it for me, it's my routine not for the pics because I had so much water retention I didn't even look like me! HA!

I'm due in five weeks and I have thought that I would like to look good but I know when the time comes I'm going to be like eff that. I'm really going to try and shower though haha it all depends on where I am I guess.
If you go into labor away from home there isn't much you can do.. and it you're home, it all depends how you feel.
Good luck with baby!

This question made me chuckle. I sure did ... and looking back at the pictures, I'm glad I did. :) With my first child, my water broke, I got in the shower, did my make up, did my hair and was just finishing up when my husband arrived to take us all to the hospital. (I had my daughter and 2 nieces with me). With my 2nd, I was out and about and already glammed up when labor pains hit, my hair and make up lasted through labor and delivery. With our 3rd child, it was the middle of the night when the pains started, I dolled up as best I could ... and went to have our last baby ... 2 days before Christmas. Good times. Now I am anticipating the birth of my grand daughter in November. And yes I will be glammed up as best I can for this one too. Haha.

I was induced for my 3 month old. So I was able to shower before going to the hospital. After my epidural (I got it early on in labor) and I was a little drugged up so I put on make up! Then I took a shower every morning afterwards. I didnt put on make up but I did fix my hair a little (curly with some gel). It did help me feel better and not feel so gross!

I showered and put on some light makeup before labor, after labor the same day was another story I looked rough but good lord I had just brought life into this world I was tired and wore out but elated with joy. I had my wonderful husband who kept telling me I was the most amazing women on the planet and so even though I looked rough I felt beautiful!! The next day however I showered did my hair and put on some makeup :)

I did take a shower and do a little makeup before going to the hospital. But it was for nothing :(. My labor was rough, and my doctor suggested I take another shower to help ease the pain. Their went my hair and makeup. I wish I would have looked in the mirror sometime after that, because I look terrible in all the pics. My mom just kindof put up my hair up so it wouldn't be in my way, and my face wow, terrible and swollen. Next time, if there is a next time, I will try to keep my hair and face nice so the pics will be better. And I did try to look descent after the baby came, I showered and did a little makeup too for visitors.

Well, it depends on you and IF how you look in photos afterward... matters?

Believe this or not, my five year old son said mommy look pretty for my bubba when he is born. I will never forget this precious memory. I did put on a little make up and my In labor pictures are not so bad thanks to him....

K.

Good Lord I did NOT do anything to myself...I just brought a BABY into the world!!! I labored for two days for my second son and was exhausted after an emergency c-section. I look at the pictures, and yeah, I look tired...but who wouldn't?! I was lucky (i guess) with my first one because I had been out at a surprise birthday party and was all dressed up, hair, makeup...so by the time the pictures were taken with him I looked great! I am also going to be having my third and all ANYONE better expect from me is a baby...if I shower, they are lucky.

I was sent to the hospital to be induced after my last doctor's check up due to preeclampsia, which was 2 days after my due date, so I was reasonably "made up" from having just been at an appointment. They tried inducing for 24 hours with no success, and due to the medication I was on for preeclampsia, I had thrown up all night. I eventually had a c-section, and couldn't shower for about 24 hours after that. So by that time, I felt and looked pretty yucky, but I did have the foresight to wear WATERPROOF MASCARA. No raccoon eyes, at least! LOL After I took my shower, I did dry my hair, and put on some makeup, and I felt much better. And I looked like myself in pictures, which wasn't even in my thought process, but I realize it now, after everyone mentioned it.

I took clothes to wear, but forgot to leave on a bra so I am under the blankets> LOL

I did NOT put makeup on. To me, that is NOT natural. It was labor.
I did brush my bedhead hair.

I had my hair done in a nice french braid right before, so that it would be able to stay up and look nice and I wouldnt have to worry about it.

Ooooh! I like to look pretty before, during, after. Why not? I make sure the nails are done (especially toes cuz everyone seems to be hanging out down there). I make sure my lags are shaved. I fix my hair in a "durable" do. I buy new comfy but cute PJs. I am lotioned and perfumed. Heck...Last thing I did before go-time with the last one was touch up my lipstick...And my OB smiled and said, I just re-applied mine too so we are both ready to go.

I am in dozens of photos and playing host afterward to all those visitors, I don't want to be sitting there in a grubby, miserable pile.

i woke up early the morning i was to be induced, did my hair and my make up, made sure i looked beautiful!! bad idea... as soon as i got there they tried to stick me with an iv and missed and thought it would be a good idea to start fishing in my arm. now, i am a queezy person when it comes to these things, and started getting hot and sweating alot. so the hair went into a pony tail(i had very long hair) and then the make up kinda went everywere and on my pillow, husband was nice enough to try and fix it for me. this time(5 more weeks till my planned c-section) i wont be wearing make up or fixing my hair, its pointless. i am going to try to be pretty for when we leave to go show off the baby though.

nope, sure didn't and dared someone to take a pic! lol

I showered and did my hair (but not my makeup) before i went to the hospital since i knew i was going to be getting a spinal block and not allowed to get up for the first day or so of my week long stay in the hospital. No shower or regular clothes or hair-do till day two.

LOL, My water broke and I remember asking the nurse on the phone if I could shower before I came to the hospital. Since I was not having any contractions she told me a shower was ok just not to wash down there or anything. I had my baby at 10:00 that night. The next morning I got up took a nice shower, lotioned and put on make up. I felt so much better!

I was soo swollen up in all my pics! I look like I am seriously obese. blegh. They tried to induce labor, but it didn't take... then 2 days later (or 1 1/2 day...) I went on my own, but had some blood issues and preeclamsia, so they gave me more pic. to speed it up... Then I bled a lot, but because of some OTHER issues I couldn't have a blood transfusion, so they pumped me full of IV fluids instead. I have about 3 chins in all my hospital pics. :( At the time I didn't care, but I do wish I had some good ones! The sad thing is, I was already "dolled up" from the day (I had family coming into town, so I dressed up for that) but by the time I delivered it was all worn off.

Nope - both times I left work to go to the hospital only to find out I had to be induced.

Even if I knew I was going in to give birth I wouldn't have worried about it. I mean, I would have made sure I was showered and clean but the hair would be in a ponytail and definitely no makeup. Labor and delivery for me was hard work and all the preparation I would have done would be undone after the pushing, the oxygen, the crying, etc.

yes i showered at the hospital after my daughter and i did my make up every morning and i brought my hair straightner as well so i could straighten my hair. I always like to look good and i made me feel alot better after i had my daughter. And i didnt want visitors to see me lookin horrible.

Haha I never did ANYTHING to myself except shower :) I don't even know if I brought my make-up bag. I can't stand feeling dirty though, so I definitely showered and got into my own clothes pretty quickly. I'm not a big make-up person in regular life either, so it wasn't too drastic of a jump! I've always envied those women who look fab in their hospital photos, but I am not motivated enough haha.

K

I think if it'll make you FEEL better, then go for it!

I showered before I went to the hospital both times, but no makeup and the hair was just in a ponytail.

My appearance was definitely the last thing on my mind, I was very focused on delivering a baby. I don't think i look awful in the pictures though, just exhausted, which no amount of make up can hide. I think if you make sure your brow is clean (maybe have them waxed before your due date) and put your hair up in a pretty braid so it looks nice whether you get a chance to shower or not. And just so you know, no one is looking at you anyway, its all about the beautiful babe!

i made sure i had my makeup on yes, but dolled up!?, no

No offense, but if anyone has a problem with a new mom looking blah after labor and delivery, they need their heads examined. It's child birth not the Miss America pageant. lol I made do with a sponge bath of my face and neck, some secret, hair brush and hair tie. Then I made the first person to visit me (my parents) either leave money for real food or bring it in. lol Good luck and Mazel tov!

well with my first I showered before but It was evening time so i didn't put on makeup. Although the next morning when I finally had the baby by emergency c-section I looked horrible. My pictures were awful! For next baby I had a scheduled c-section so I got all dolled up. I curled my hair put on a full face of make-up etc. And my pictures looked so good. I remember I even posted them to facebook with my holding my newborn in my arms and I got so many complements from people saying I looked beautiful, was glowing, looked amazing and they couldn't believe I had just gone through major surgery and still looked so good. So I was really happy that I got all done up. I am pregnant again now and I plan to get all done up again so i can have great pictures.

I too had medical complications with my first (well shes my only lol) no shower until i left the hospital, no make up for almost a week and i didnt do anything but put my hair in a pony tail for almost a month. I felt like i was pushing that baby out for almost 6 months it was so bad, i couldnt sit, stand or walk since i was in so much pain. I wouldnt worry to much about it, no one can expect you to get all dolled up for or right after labor.

I was scheduled to be induced, but all I did was shower the night before! I never wear makeup anyways.

Plus, pictures can always be "doctored"... hehe :)

Ha ha! With number one, I did not and I looked like death warmed over in all the pics, though I would have anyway because I had an emergency c-section after a long labor and 3 hours of pushing. For number two, I was having a planned C-section so I put on a little make up (light blush, mascara). I am not a big make-up person anyway but I will probably do it again with number three in March. I don't regret it a bit, nor do I feel silly and vain. Do what you want girl! :)

I'm due in 7 weeks, OMG!!!! with number 4 and actually while I've never cared before I'm packing my makeup and hair stuff, actually planning and getting a nice easy to deal with cut in a couple of weeks. This baby was planed, and long awaited (after two losses) and things are just different. I even had maternity pictures done, and while I'm huge and in general hate my body, I'm loving the baby bump and want to be able to happily look back on it all, which means lots of pics where I don't look like death warmed over.

But if you can't get a good pic after labor, photshop is a pretty handy tool!

as someone else said though, it's not about the people coming, and ok i want good pictures, but it isn't about that either, i want to be proud and happy to show off these pictures, and remember every last detail of this, and looking half decent will help me do that.

Well other than my other children and my husband I loathed anyone visiting me. I was in pain I figured I would see everyone once I got home.
I did take a shower right before we left for the hospital. I did my hair before I had my kids and I looked good. I was able to take a shower the day after with all 3 babies.
Good luck. I loved packing my bag for the hospital.

I didn't with my first and I looked horrid in all the pictures. When I look back at them I cringe. However, there were a lot of extenuating circumstances. With my second, it was a planned c-section, so I put on some foundation and a little mascara before I went in. When I came out of recovery, I brushed my hair and added a little eyeshadow. The better I look, the better I feel. I don't wear at TON of makeup anyway, but it just made me feel better.

3 babies...3 awful pics...but you know what...it was labor, it is not pretty...you have a precious baby, so it is no big deal. I always tried to look nice on the day we brought the baby home...that was the picture I always showed, who wants to see a woman in a picture right after she has given birth? Take pictures of the baby! When visitors came to the house I always apologized for my own appearance, but again, not here to see "mom" there to see baby = )