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When the first excruciating labour pains kick in, you would think having your hair, nails and face done would be the last thing on your mind, but for some women pre-birth beauty regimes are now a top priority.
From "labour lashes", pedicures, manicures, a full face of makeup, and new hairdos, the modern woman’s labour bag has been given a facelift.
A study by cosmetify that was published on Harper's Bazaar, recently revealed that 64% of women get some form of beauty treatments before giving birth.
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According to the study, two out of three women aged 18 to 31, will also invest in beauty treatments ahead of their due date, with half getting manicures or pedicures, and a third going for spray tans and blowdry treatments.
According to Harpers Bazaar, when the women in the study were asked why they were so concerned about their appearance following childbirth, the top reasons were looking good in post-birth pictures.
26 percent said they wanted to look presentable for visitors and 22 percent said they did not want to look exhausted or ill.
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"Women should always consult with their doctors when it comes to beauty product safety. Doctors generally recommend avoiding the excessive use of products that contain salicylic acid during pregnancy," says Dischem nursing practitioner Nosiviwe Ndlela.
Here are a few influencers who have proudly confessed to using makeup in the delivery room:
The MUA
Professional makeup artist Alaha Majid turned her delivery room into a complete beauty parlour. She had eyelashes, a contouring kit, lipsticks, a brow pomade, and a holder for her many makeup brushes.
After she shared the pictures, her followers were instantly surprised by how gorgeous she looked, despite having been in labour for 10 hours.
"I can't even do my eye liner straight and she has the perfect wing while having contractions," one commented.
The vloggers
YouTuber with over 5 000 followers Lee Anne Jareell, kept her subscribers up to-date with her beauty regime from her delivery room.
Another popular YouTuber Alexis Jayda, posted a picture of herself recording a make-up tutorial while having contractions.
The blogger
According to Daily Mail, blogger Lindsay Bryan had a false alarm that sent her to the delivery room early, which gave her the opportunity to glam up.
In 2018, Twitter user @ShelbyLafour also shared how she went all out for her big day, tweeting how she "wore makeup had my hair curled and braided and I had a custom hospital gown and everything."
I wore makeup had my hair curled and braided and I had a custom hospital gown and everything.. lol I didnt know people actually cared how someone looked during labor ?? pic.twitter.com/CWGvkjzEp5
— Sheller ?? (@ShelbyLafour) October 7, 2018
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Some people are against this trend, explaining that women should not be pressured to look “flawless” within hours of giving birth. They also argue that birth is a beautiful private experience that shouldn’t be about appearances or social media.
Pregnancy isn't even about pregnancy anymore, it's about how cute you can look & if you got poppin makeup during labor ??
— * (@Juicyhayy) August 13, 2016
I cringe everytime i see a women posting pictures like this one after they deliver. Giving soon to be mamas unrealistic expectations how birthing should look like makes my blood boil. pic.twitter.com/KeUgmPJZb9
— paulette (@pauletteeal) October 5, 2018
Other women have welcomed glamming up for labour as a distraction from contractions, while some say it makes them feel good and confident.
I did what I normally do when I'm preparing to show off my body - mani, pedi, Brazilian! Women can do whatever makes them feel good in preparation for labour. If some find more strength&power in tans&makeup, they should do it!
— gayle ryans hogarth (@GayleRyans) May 1, 2019
I dont see anything wrong here,i actually made sure that my hair was looking good????
— Yadah (@guguelizondo) July 3, 2018
Are you for or against wearing makeup when you go into labour? Chat to us here
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