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3rd Trimester
The Bump Editors
member
Pressure to look good right after birth?
The Bump Editors
member
Do you think there is an increased pressure to look good moments after giving birth? In other words, put on some make-up or change out of the hospital gown for the first photo with your new addition?
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Re: Pressure to look good right after birth?
I can only speak for myself and its not because of society or anyone else. I looked A HOT MESS in the photos taken immediately after my 1st son was born. I really would like to look much better this time around. I know its superficial and doesn't really matter in the grand skeem of things but looking back at those photos 3 yrs later I keep thinking...how come nobody told me I looked so bad!! LOL!!
I plan on taking plenty of time after LO is born (at least an hour or two) to change into my own jammies, wash my face, pull back my hair, etc lol before the family rushes in..
I say that but I can honestly say that the most important thing I want to do before they come in is breastfeed and get all covered up... Regardless, I am sure none of what I look like with truly matter, but thats my plan right now
I can only imagine how our babies will feel looking back on pictures of their screaming, naked, vernix covered bodies 20 years from now and ask us how we could be such terrible parents to let anyone take a picture of them without giving them a chance to get ready for their close up.
In a way I think it's like a rite of passage for new moms to have a picture of themselves looking a little disheveled, considering all the hard work they had just gone through! Maybe I just don't care what people think about how I look moments after giving birth, but I think there is plenty of time to make yourself up for nice pictures too... like the rest of your child's life.
If anyone feels the need to capture the strained expression on my face mid push then so be it -- but I'm the sort that took a picture of the placenta after she pushed it out because she thought it was cool. I carry that baby in my wallet.
Avery - March 16, 2011
Things to avoid during pregnancy: Eye contact with cats. Cats will suck the burgeoning life right out of you, using their infamous feline mind-powers. Avert your eyes, and move along.
FACT: 1 in 10 people are said to be a carrier of Listeria. Therefore you should avoid all shopping malls, grocery stores and busy street corners for the duration of your pregnancy. Or microwave anyone you contact until steaming, just to be safe.
Carina 12.28.2010 | Aurelia 9.23.12 | Chart - Round 3
Yeah, I'm probably the vainest mommy ever...or maybe its my insecurity from all this pregnancy acne....BUT, I'm still wondering if once I go into active labor if I'll feel okay enough to shower and put makeup on BEFORE I go into the hospital...even if its 2am. So yes.. I feel pressure to look somewhat decent for our first family picture..
When I saw 'looking good' I for some reason translated that as 'looking pre-baby'.
When I look at pictures of me post-birth with my other two children, I looked messy but my cheeks were rosy and I had a big, wonderful smile on my face. Other people might notice my hair a mess and that I look tired, but when I see those pictures all I see is a happy new mother.
Absolutely! I looked like total poo in the first pictures taken after my sons were born...but even with my hair a mess, sweat all over, and a blood-stained gown, it is the happiest I've ever looked in pictures...that has to count for something
EDD 1/31/13, MC May 17. EDD 3/31/13, MC July 26. I miss you so much already my angel loves
My BF said she had time and is soo glad she did, that she felt much better throughout and after ( particularly the shower portion, and maybe a little acne coverage, I don't think I would go as far as a make up application).
I have told my DH there will be no pictures of me immediately post baby, at least until I can put a shirt on and probably wash my face. This decision came from my cousin's mom facebook posting pics of her and the baby clearly directly post birth and they were so bad I just felt bad for her, I felt like we are not close enough that I should be seeing her in this state. Yikes!
Some of the pictures I cherish most were of my laboring. There was one when I was sitting on the exercise ball and my DH took a picture of me bent over the bed, bouncing on the ball. My gown isn't tied in the back and my hair was a mess. Do I regret that picture? Hell no! Have any other people seen it besides DH and I? No. It's something for us to look back on and think of the moments while we were going through that time in our lives.
After giving birth, Dh took tons of pictures. One of me alone when DD was on the warmer and I had the BIGGEST smile on my face. Did I look beautiful? Hell yes! Was it because of a pretty hair do or makeup? Nope, it was all because of meeting our daughter for the first time.
Cherish the moments, take pictures, share them with eachother as your LO grows. You don't need to share them with family but you will love them, I promise. Our first picture was when DD was about an hour old and I asked someone to take it. We are all glowing! I had BF already and was successful, my DD was yawning in the picture, it's a beautiful moment captured for us to cherish forever.