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Babies take an awfully long time to hatch. So what's a mama-to-be to do in between all those excruciating contractions? Well, you could do your makeup.
Photos of a 27-year-old New Yorker who donned her 'war paint' during labour have gone viral.
Alaha Karimi is a makeup artist, so putting on her face was less about wanting to look snazzy for the afterbirth photos and more about finding a means to distract her from the agonies of childbirth.
"I was Googling ways to overcome the pain, because it was just unbearable, and one of the suggestions was to put on some music and do something you love - so that's what I did," Karimi said.
Her sister posted the pics on Instagram - to mixed reviews. While some commended her mastery of the brush, others knocked her for being vain.
"Some said I'm putting my looks before my baby's health, but in reality, anyone who's been through labour knows that it's just a waiting game," said Karimi, who got her doctor's approval before bringing out her supplies.
"There was nothing I could do."
She's absolutely right. Whether it's colouring or knitting reading or doing your nails or whatever, it's a brilliant idea for women to get stuck into an activity during the early phases of labour. Not only will doing something you love help pass the time, but it will probably keep you calm, too - a definite plus, as stress can intensify labour pains.
Personally it was a struggle just flicking through Psychology Today during my own labour.
The woman's skill is impressive. To be fair, makeup is not my thing. And if I had tried to apply anything, I'd have wound up wearing lipstick on my chin.
Congrats to Karimi, who eventually - looking gorgeous - gave birth to her first child, a daughter.