This Woman Applied A Full Face Of Makeup While In Labor

A mom used her time between contractions to apply a full face of makeup

A little-known fact of being in labor is that it can be incredibly boring before the good part happens. If you’ve had an epidural, you may be waiting hours with relatively little pain before the baby actually comes. Some women pass the time playing cards, watching TV, or messing around on their phones. And still some do a full-on beauty routine, like this mom who decided to spend part of her labor applying a bunch of makeup.

New York City makeup artist Alaha Karimi recently took to Instagram to share adorable photos of herself putting on quite the spread of makeup while in labor with her daughter. Of course, this is no big deal to her — makeup is literally her job and obviously, very important to her.

The new mom writes, “Three weeks ago at this time I was finishing up my makeup and getting ready for my princess to make her appearance. Yes, I was doing my makeup while I was in labor! I was pausing during contractions and picking up where I left off once the contractions passed. I only packed some of my favorite products in my hospital bag.”

She then goes on to list all the products she brought and the types of brushes she used. This is her thing. Makeup. And even if it weren’t her career and passion, it shouldn’t matter. If a new mom wants to give birth in a sexy nightie and have her hair blown out by someone while in labor, what business is it of anyone else’s? Well, this is the internet. So naturally, sharing this photo invited a few detractors.

There’s no way in hell you can apply or even think about makeup while in labor, it’s the most excruciating pain you can imagine. I don’t respect this chick because her vanity is more important that birthing a baby that isn’t drugged.

Morons. The beauty of giving birth is looking back at your pictures and seeing your messy hair and face but a beautiful smile next to your child.

You’ve got to be kidding.

God knows what she contaminated her make up with….

Well, then. Isn’t humanity lovely? Happily, there were plenty of supportive comments as well from women saying they’d do the same thing or wish they’d had the energy to. But it can’t be overstated exactly how uncalled for the mean comments really are. What concern is it of theirs if Karimi wants perfect makeup for the moment her child arrives? I get it. Because I sort of did it too.

My c-section for my son was planned for early in the morning and per hospital instruction, I didn’t wear any makeup for the procedure. I packed it in my bag for afterward with every intention of using it. The surgery was uneventful in the best way and I got to my room an hour later, feeling great. With nothing to do until visitors arrived and my son happily asleep in his isolette, I asked my mom to bring me my makeup bag.

We spent 15 minutes chatting while I made myself feel human again. I wanted to look good (well, as good as I could a few hours post-op) in the first photos with my new family of four. It wasn’t the same as applying makeup while in labor, but some friends and relatives definitely expressed shock that I did that while still numb from the waist down with a 6-inch incision in my abdomen. Honestly, I didn’t give a single shit. It was something I wanted to do and it made me happy. Screw anyone who thought less of me for it.

If putting on makeup while in labor passed the hours and made this mom feel good, more power to her. Anyone shaming her needs a hobby and some serious time spent reflecting on what a judgmental jerk they are. This doesn’t make her any less of a devoted mother.

For someone who loves makeup and feels more confident with it on, they’re giving the world their best self when they wear it. She wanted to look and feel beautiful the moment her baby girl entered the world. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.