Along With Babies, Hairstylists Are Arriving in Hospitals

[Deleted]

Haha, I read this earlier. You know, I used to roll my eyes about this kind of thing (does anyone remember that Rosie Pope show on Bravo? She used to deal with this on there) but now I can definitely see why people do it. It's a special moment in both of your lives. I personally look like *shit* in my hospital photos and I'm vain enough to be reminded of that fact and feel chagrined whenever I see them (and my in laws put some of them on their electronic frames so I see them more often than I'd like, lol).

I'm pretty cheap and I hate to be the center of attention so even if I could have a do over, I don't know that I'd hire a stylist to come in. But if I was rolling in money or I had to have paparazzi photos taken (i.e. celebs like Duchess Kate) I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[penguingrrl]

Are you saying wawa needs perfectly groomed hair later today?

[cattledogkisses]

I haven't had a child, but when I was laid up in the hospital after having surgery and couldn't shower I would have gladly paid someone to wash my hair (or at least make it not look like a greasy mess). I felt so gross by the time I left.

[heyjude]

Just another way for moms to play mental mind games on social media with other moms. Next up, posing in a bikini a few days after giving birth! No wait. We are already there.

[omgzombies]

I really dislike this. I hate that women feel like they have to look presentable at all times, including right after pushing another human being out of their body. Some of my favorite pictures I have of my mother are the ones of her right after she delivered. She's tired, but so content and happy, they really are beautiful.

I don't judge anyone for feeling like they want to slap on some makeup or have their hair done, if that is what makes you feel together and happy, then have at, regardless of whether or not you are "bowing to societal pressure" or just doing it because you like hair and makeup. But I hate what this standard says of how society thinks women need to present themselves.

[ECB]

To each their own on this - but there was NO TIME for primping and getting my hair done before the first pics of DS were taken. And I just love, love, love those pictures - so natural and so in the moment.

I could see later that day or the next day having this done to get more "professional" pictures taken. Sure. But right after birth??? The LAST thing I was thinking about was "Oh, how do I look? how's the lighting in here?".

Blah - this is one reason I don't like social media. It's not longer about just enjoying the moment. it's about "Oh- I have to capture it on a camera, oh, and I better look my best too!".

[EloiseWeenie]

So part of me feels that this is totally ridiculous. And for the record, I would never do it.

But another part of me says, you know what? You carried this baby for 9 months, and then it either ripped through your vag or you were sliced open. A pretty hairstyle is the least that a woman deserves.

[josieposy]

After being sawed in half like a damn magic act, having two kids taken out of me, having to move myself to my own bed less than 3 hours later, and then having to go to another hospital across the street to see my kids for several days, anyone who would have come near me with a curling iron or a makeup brush was probably taking their life in their own hands.

If you want a camera in your face after birth, then do your thing. I'm not gonna judge. Leave those of us who had a less than majestic experience out of it.

[ttt]

Oh goody another NYT fake trend story!

[eclaires]

I'd be all over this. But the thing I hated most in the hospital with Jackson was how gross I felt the first few days. With Scarlett I was able to shower almost immediately after my c/s and put on my own clothes. It was a night and day experience, as far as enjoying it. I'd love to be pampered a bit after having my baby. Would it be nice to also look better in pics? Sure. But mostly I like the idea of being pampered. Because getting my hair and makeup done is fun for me.

[heyjude]

Aug 5, 2015 7:51:08 GMT -5 ttt said:

Oh goody another NYT fake trend story!

.....and this!!!

[IIOY]

I don't actually believe this is much of a thing, but either way I'm not mad. Do your thing, ladies, if it makes you feel good.

[underwaterrhymes]

I looked, objectively, like such shit after I gave birth to my son. I had labored in the tub initially and my crazy hair had dried naturally (while lying in bed) so I was rocking some major frizz. And I had been in labor for 24 hours when I finally had him, so I was exhausted. So they are definitely not my hottest moments.

But they're still beautiful photos and I wouldn't change them for the world.

(Well, maybe I would dial down the frizz just a bit.)

[heyjude]

Aug 5, 2015 7:56:14 GMT -5 IIOY said:

I don't actually believe this is much of a thing, but either way I'm not mad. Do your thing, ladies, if it makes you feel good.

I would feel this way too if we knew these pictures were for a private photo album. These pics are for Facebook! So that other moms can say "wow how did you look so good?" And then secretly feel bad about their red faced, bloated, disheveled, post birth pic.

[cookiemdough]

So I guess it is never okay to look less than perfect anymore?

[IIOY]

Aug 5, 2015 8:00:47 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Aug 5, 2015 7:56:14 GMT -5 IIOY said:

I don't actually believe this is much of a thing, but either way I'm not mad. Do your thing, ladies, if it makes you feel good.

I would feel this way too if we knew these pictures were for a private photo album. These pics are for Facebook! So that other moms can say "wow how did you look so good?" And then secretly feel bad about their red faced, bloated, disheveled, post birth pic.

I still don't care. Aside from the fact that i don't actually think this is happening on a large or even moderate scale, I am tired of judging women for the theoretical fallout from making themselves feel good. It's not their responsibility to refrain from doing something nice for themselves to prevent other women from having hurt feelings.

[ECB]

Aug 5, 2015 8:06:54 GMT -5 tillie said:

I haven't had a baby so I won't comment on that.

However, I have been in the hospital for extended periods of time. Sometimes I just want someone to come in a cut or wash my hair and do my nails. Not even a full manicure, just a polish change or something. I would happily pay for it. You feel like crap as it is but after being in the hospital for over a month sometimes it can sure help a lot.

THIS I'm fine with.  The day after I gave birth- hell yeah, someone wants to come and pamper me?  go for it.  But this article says that this is for her child's FIRST picture.   I truly can't imagine being all "Oh- no, don't hand me my baby yet/ don't take any picture yet.  I need to get my hair and makeup done first!!!". 

Now, that being said, there probably is some exaggeration to this story.  But just going off what was written - it just reads like "Oh- baby is out.  O.k., beauty team, come in!  PRIORITIES!!!!!"

[heyjude]

Aug 5, 2015 8:09:35 GMT -5 IIOY said:

Aug 5, 2015 8:00:47 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I would feel this way too if we knew these pictures were for a private photo album. These pics are for Facebook! So that other moms can say "wow how did you look so good?" And then secretly feel bad about their red faced, bloated, disheveled, post birth pic.

I still don't care. Aside from the fact that i don't actually think this is happening on a large or even moderate scale, I am tired of judging women for the theoretical fallout from making themselves feel good. It's not their responsibility to refrain from doing something nice for themselves to prevent other women from having hurt feelings.

Sure. Do what you want to feel good. But the whole point of posting it to FB is to be judged. That's it. And this is just another volley in the mommy wars that play out in social media time and time again. In that sense, it's nothing new,

[debatethis]

Aug 5, 2015 7:28:57 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

I haven't had a child, but when I was laid up in the hospital after having surgery and couldn't shower I would have gladly paid someone to wash my hair (or at least make it not look like a greasy mess). I felt so gross by the time I left.

I spent ten days in isolation last fall w/no access to a shower (just sponge baths and those shower cap things with the shampoo already built in) and my first shower was heaven.

Buuuut I still wouldn't have cared that much about a professional blow out and makeup like an hour after childbirth.

[josieposy]

I really kinda wonder what expectations stuff like this sets for my girls when they get older. Or any girls growing up right now for that matter. We (general we) talk a big game about self-acceptance these days but then everyone needs a magazine-ready FB photo. I just wonder if the messages conflict a bit?

[heyjude]

I mean what's next? Women who complete marathons won't take a post race photo until after their hair and makeup team give them a blowout and a smokey eye?

[laurenpetro]

Aug 5, 2015 8:03:30 GMT -5 cookiemdough said:

So I guess it is never okay to look less than perfect anymore?

thank you.

the birth of my kids is probably the closest i will ever come to a "natural experience".  people's inability to embrace that gets a big eyeroll from me.

[wawa]

Aug 5, 2015 8:19:38 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Aug 5, 2015 8:09:35 GMT -5 IIOY said:

I still don't care. Aside from the fact that i don't actually think this is happening on a large or even moderate scale, I am tired of judging women for the theoretical fallout from making themselves feel good. It's not their responsibility to refrain from doing something nice for themselves to prevent other women from having hurt feelings.

Sure. Do what you want to feel good. But the whole point of posting it to FB is to be judged. That's it. And this is just another volley in the mommy wars that play out in social media time and time again. In that sense, it's nothing new,

Wait...huh? The whole point of posting things to Facebook is to be judged? ? I'm confused. I thought I posted shit to fb to show it to my friends and family.

[2curlydogs]

I.just.don't.care.

[vlagrl]

I think this is silly. THere is no way I had the energy to deal with this. I brought my own makeup and never used it. It was a long 16 hour day that included a c/section. I was in the hospital for 4 days, caring for my baby, napping and trying to manage my pain. I was wearing mesh panties with a depend. I was also severely bloated from all the fluids being pumped into me. I didn't like the way I looked so there is no way in hell would I want photos of that.

[Vespasia]

I think the real question here is whether the hair and makeup teams in the delivery room are what is delaying wawa's induction!

[erbear]

This look at me culture has got to stop. I don't think I considered for one second how I looked after delivery. 55 hours of labor, 4 hours f pushing and a c-section - I probably looked like hell. But the first pic of me and my daughter is beautiful, and not because my hair looks gorgeous.

I don't know. It's not my thing and I would roll my eyes if someone irl did this.

[IIOY]

Aug 5, 2015 8:19:38 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Aug 5, 2015 8:09:35 GMT -5 IIOY said:

I still don't care. Aside from the fact that i don't actually think this is happening on a large or even moderate scale, I am tired of judging women for the theoretical fallout from making themselves feel good. It's not their responsibility to refrain from doing something nice for themselves to prevent other women from having hurt feelings.

Sure. Do what you want to feel good. But the whole point of posting it to FB is to be judged. That's it. And this is just another volley in the mommy wars that play out in social media time and time again. In that sense, it's nothing new,

So women can make themselves feel good so long as they don't share it with anyone else? What if they show their private photos to someone else? Does that get them booted from the Acceptable New Mother Behavior Club?

We have an entire makeup board here dedicated to women learning how to make themselves feel better through hair and makeup. We post selfies and talk about compliments we get from other people, after meticulously planning our makeup routine in advance of GTGs and trips, and I'm willing to bet most of us have posted at least one post-makeup selfie on FB. Yet somehow none of this is acceptable behavior if a woman has just a given birth because some other mom might feel bad.

[eclaires]

Honestly, I don't think I've ever shared any pictures post-birth of me and my babies. Not because I look a hot mess, but because it was a private moment for me. I haven't even shown them to family, I don't think. I posted pics of my kids on facebook once they were cleaned up (well with Scarlett, I don't think I used facebook when Jackson was born), and a pic of Jackson meeting Scarlett.

IDK, maybe it's because I had c/s and I didn't get to hold my babies for awhile, and with Scarlett, I was in surgery for about an hour after MH took her from the OR, but those pics are just for us and I don't want to share them. The first private moments with our kids are just ours.

But I would have loved after that to have been pampered and dolled up because I felt horrible and those things always make me feel better. I don't begrudge other women for wanting that too, because I would have looooooooooooved it. It would have made me feel like myself after a pretty invasive couple hours. Maybe some people do it for the picture, or even for the picture to share, but I couldn't care less. If that makes them happier, have at it.

[ttt]

I would have loved to have someone do my hair in the hospital before I went home - it's the "immediately after delivery" thing that gets me. Like you cannot even have a genuine authentic moment in the minutes immediately after giving birth - that has to be styled and improved upon too. God forbid someone see you with your hair looking less than flawless, no matter the circumstances, and of COURSE everyone has to see you because what are you going to do, *not* share with the world every single photo of you?

I bet even Kate Middleton didn't have stylists doing her hair right after giving birth.

At any rate, I don't really believe this is an actual thing apart from a handful of ridiculous women with too much money in Manhattan.