Looking Good Minutes After Labor and Childbirth: Why and How

I don't mean to sound vain, but this is something I pride myself on doing after I deliver a baby without medication. Why? Let me count the ways...

First of all, there will invariably be pictures taken of you and your little one after he makes his entrance into the world. We've all seen innumerable photos passed around, emailed, faceboooked, and blogged of mom and baby in their hospital setting. Knowing that scores of people are going to be enjoying these photos, why not try to look your best?

Second, it's just really cool to get compliments from the nursing staff, and sometimes even doctors, about your spry appearance after giving birth. Who among us doesn't like to have our egos massaged a little?

As I look back on my after-birth photos, I have to say that I am pleased with almost all of them and remember being proud to pass them about to family and friends. I remember when I was delivering the now 8-year-old girl, and in the throes of transition, that the nurse told my husband, "Look at her, she still has her lipstick on and everything! She looks like Cindy Crawford!" My husband then replied that I always try to look my best after giving birth, so I always put my lipstick on before we leave for the hospital. I felt rather ridiculous after listening to his comment, and even somewhat embarrassed at the time, but when I looked at the photo of myself after delivering her, the embarrassment melted away and I only felt good about myself, knowing that I didn't let myself go, even while delivering my 6th baby!

Now, there are some tricks to looking good after labor. I am certainly by no means a beauty queen, but with the right products in my hair and the right products on my face, I can make a half-way decent appearance out of myself. And if I can do it, you can, too. Here are some tips you can implement the next time you give birth...

1. The first step is to choose a few good hair products. My favorites are from the Got2B line, which comes in sprays, gels, waxes and mousse...

Because I spend a lot of time in early labor, I have plenty of warning for when the little guy is going to make his appearance, so I always shower, then do my hair, making sure to use the appropriate product for whatever style my hair is at the time.

2. The second step is to choose a line of make-up that doesn't wear off. My favorite is the Revlon Colorstay line. I start with the Colorstay foundation in Ivory...,

...then I apply a Covergirl line of shadow in creams and blues...

This is followed by my favorite Colorstay eyeliner in black...

...and my all-time favorite Colorstay mascara, which comes with a primer, then black topcoat...

I finish off my face with Colorstay lipliner in Nude...

....filled in with Loreal Violet Attitude lipstick...

You can laugh til you cry, outright cry, shower, and sweat and none of this make-up will come off. It is amazing.

3. Wear cute earrings. The earrings I chose where a gold and wood number given to me by my mother-in-law...

They are large enough to make a statement, but not so large that they are uncomfortable to lie on if you are lying on your side.

4. Now that you've done everything you can to look good after labor, there's only two steps left....deliver your baby and have someone take the photograph. But there's a trick to that, too. Here, let me show you what not to do, and what to do...

Look at this first attempt at an after-birth photograph...

This was taken at the same time the above photograph was taken, with my little red camera, but the flash was on, so it accentuated all the weight I have gained in my lower face. Plus, the camera was somewhat at eye-level with me, which also accentuated the extra weight. To top it off, I wasn't smiling.

Now let's take a look at the next attempt...

The flash was off, but the camera was still too low, about level with my face, and my bangs were splayed unattractively on my forehead, revealing my frown wrinkles and the chicken pox scar between my eyebrows. Unacceptable. Oh, and my eyes are closed.

Next attempt...

Now the camera is high enough, but I couldn't seem to open my eyes wide enough. I thought I was opening them to their normal width, but apparently the drugs I had been given during the after-birth procedure hadn't worn off yet, and that is apparent in this photo.

Let's try again....

Ah, there we have it. In this photo, I vehemently tried to open my eyes wider than I normally would, and again, perhaps because of the drugs, they don't look abnormally wide, but normal.

So you see, with a little pre-childbirth effort and planning, you, too, can look great minutes after giving birth! Thanks for listening.



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