Yep, I saw it on a blog once and had to laugh and write a post about it. I thought it was the funniest/ lamest thing I had ever seen. Now here I am... Not even two years later bringing not one, but TWO gowns to the hospital. Yea, I'm feeling a little sheepish (and hypocritical) seeing what I wrote before.
My oh my, how time can change things, I'm a testament of that! I also said I'd have a Beemer before a Baby or a Lexus before a Little one and Lawd knows that didn't happen either! I'm sure this eating my words thing will become a regular commodity as I journey through motherhood.
To my defense, the gowns I got are WAY cuter than the others (also more than $50... But hey, I'm making more money than I was then), and they also double as great nursing gowns and totally beat the regular old gowns they give you at the hospital. And I, my friends, am ANYTHING but regular.
Some people care about having an unmedicated birth... I care about feeling good. And looking good, will help me feel good. I'm just being me and doin' me (as said in my birthing theme song "Over", by Drake) and doin' me is looking fly... Or at least trying to.
This will be the biggest, most exciting day of my life, next to my wedding day, and I was sure to look good for that day, so I want to look and feel nice for this day too.
So, what better way to look fly than to wear a Hot Mama Gown? I first heard about them when they donated one of their beautiful gowns during my March of Dimes fundraiser raffle! I knew once I got pregnant I'd be getting one. Luckily, they love me and my blog so they offered to send me one to review. My problem... I'm too indecisive and couldn't choose just one, PLUS they came out with new swaddle blankets that made my decision even more difficult. So what I do? I bought a second gown and a matching blanket. It was a pregnancy present to myself, and the only "maternity" wear I've bought my ENTIRE pregnancy (I never went and bought those maternity jeans... Or anything else for that matter).The nice thing though is wearing my gowns won't have to stop once I give birth to Lil' J. It's perfect for nursing, and a nice nightgown to wear around the house.
I know some are probably saying "Umm girrrrl... You don't even KNOW how messy and gross it gets during labor" You're right... I don't. But I DO know that these gowns are made with a fancy organic cotton that can be easily ridden of stains.So, what I think of them? Well, I think they're great, they're comfortable, they button down the back, so they're easily accessible for hospital staff, but your booty isn't showing when you're walking around (I'm oober shy when it comes to nakedness).
They're not cheaply made to be worn one time, which I love, because I'd love to just wear them around the house when Lil' J and I are at home during my leave. There's so much thought and detail in every snap and closure, it's not just thrown together. It's made to last. They also have amazing access for breastfeeding which will come in handy especially at the hospital, but at home too!FYI, the pictures of me in these gowns were initially taken by my husband, but just as much as he hates being in pictures, he hates taking them too, and the ones we took together didn't look as good with the flash, so I did my own self-portrait shoot in the nursery.
So, want to know my plan for wearing them? I bought the pink Grace gown to wear during labor. I wanted to buy pink to remind me of Cora's Story (a must read, beautiful baby who reminds me to get Lil' J her first Congenital Heart Disease test). I bought Lil' J a matching swaddle blanket that hopefully we can put her in shortly after she's born for pictures.
THEN, after I'm all cleaned up, I'll change into my Antoinette gown, which I think looks GREAT for pictures. My hair and makeup will be touched up, and we'll be ready to go.
On a side note... Other fly-making things in my (pre)hospital bag are: Fake eyelashes, hair rollers, and makeup (just the natural-looking kind). Hate all you want... I'm doin' me!Be sure to check out HotMamaGowns.com or follow @HotMamaGowns on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest deals and styles!
Girl I wore makeup during labor and did my hair too so don't let people tell you no one does it.
ReplyDeleteHey mama! You look great in the gowns! You make me giggle with your plans to be all done up for photos. Something tells me that you'll be a little preoccupied, haha!
ReplyDeleteAll the best!
I hope you do your hair and make-up after delivery! I packed my stuff, but never did more than shower and brush my hair. Now, looking back on the pics, I wish I had at least put on a little make-up!
ReplyDeleteOMGosh!!!! Jennifer..seriously..you look SO BEAUTIFUL and your self portraits turned out AMAZING (go figure!!) I'm glad you've become a convert and I cannot contain my happiness knowing you chose a Hot Mama Gown over everything else out there!!! <3 I wish I had my new fabrics ready to go, cause I'd book you for the model ;) well, you and Lil' J that is!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you plan on looking good in your photos! I hope to look good too for mine, and this may give me the courage to buy fancy birthing clothes and put on makeup without feeling ashamed of myself... as I know my family will make fun of me when I bust out the makeup bag. All in the future of course, but good luck and I'll keep hoping you have little J in June, like you're hoping.. but please don't hate on July. July is my favorite month!
ReplyDeleteI love those gowns. I did lots of walking when I was in labor with my daughter. I was so worried about my butt showing in the back and my boobs showing through the holes in the front. I wish I'd known about them then. They would have come in handy for my last two births.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, you look beautiful and I hope to see pics of you and Baby J on her debut! The gowns as usual are super fabulous. Good luck momma she'll be here before you know it!
ReplyDeleteTotally love Drake. Been a fan since he was Jimmy on Degrassi. And labor isn't all that messy. I was able to deliver and not get my gown dirty. And they were nice enough to lay a blanket down before they laid Moo down on my chest. I got to clean her off and everything!!
ReplyDeleteI get you! I made sure to purchase a brand new night gown and robe for my hospital stay and I will be applying a fresh coat of make up during labor for all those lovely pictures! One girl made me crack up when she explain that she had her flat iron on the table next to bag of make up during labor lol!
ReplyDeleteAll the other moms are going to be so jealous when they see your photo with your brand-new baby, looking like you've just returned from the spa. Lol :)
ReplyDeleteYou're gonna look great. Hope you get to apply your make up. Your self portraits look great. What kind of camera do you have? How are you feeling? I know you mentioned your plug coming out, does it feel like stuff is starting to happen?
ReplyDeleteMy advice: don't wear a bra when you're in labor. Or if you do, make sure it's a nursing bra. You won't be able to get a bra off because you'll have IV's running from your hands to the machines. So if you want to try BFing immediately, you won't want a regular bra in the way (they don't unhook the IVs for an hour or two afterwards.)
ReplyDeleteLove that black & white gown! Hospital gown suck the big one for nursing. I had to turn mine around and have the big opening in the front. So lame.
As long as you're not GBS+ my advice would be to ask for no IV and if they insist, request a heparin lock (no tubing).
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your gown choices!
Doula Dianne
www.douladianne.blogspot.com
These are fabulous, what a great idea!!
ReplyDeleteYou look great by the way!! :)
I just found out that I am expecting and i'm definitely looking into these!!
Good luck!! Xxx
xxx
Those gowns are very pretty. I wish they were more affordable! For all the women (like myself) who are stay at home mom's, and trying to make things work with one income, those gowns just aren't affordable. :-(
ReplyDeleteYou'll be beautiful when you deliver! I can't wait to see pictures!
This whole birthing process is not as cute as you make it out to be. If you give vaginal birth you will be bleeding way after you give birth. I'm not talking period blood I'm talking a sea of fluid & blood coming out of your body for weeks. You will not want to mess those clothes up, even if their washable, you won't be washing them at the hospital. Trust me you would want to wear the hospital gowns where it's okay to mess them up. I guess you could wear these for pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou look amazing. Also Labor is not messy at all. Mine wasnt...what the hell are these people doing(I maintained my blowout even in the birthing tub)? Anyway Im so excited for you
ReplyDeleteCrunchyvtmommy
You look stunning mama. love those gowns.
ReplyDeleteYou look fabulous!! I will definitely disagree with people who say labor is not messy... because it REALLY is. But that should not stop you from wearing something cute if you want! You are going to look adorable! :)
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous in your outfits.
ReplyDeleteI realize everyone has a different experience but my labor and daughter's birth was not "gross"!!
ReplyDeleteIt actually WAS cute. Sure, I wore the regular hospital gown but there wasn't any blood on it anywhere what so ever. She didn't have ONE DROP of blood or anything on her!! It's like she took a bath before she came out, lol.
I was a rare case apparently, but I didn't bleed AT ALL, let alone HEAVILY like a lot of women talk about for a couple weeks after her birth either. I guess my body just didn't carry a lot of it or whatever. Idk. But the first time I saw blood was in Feb. 2005, which was 3mths after I had my daughter (then of course I had regular visits from AF after that). All the Dr's said I was perfectly fine and nothing to worry about.
So if you don't bleed don't worry about it, just consider yourself special too.
There are just some people who yes, bleed like crazy during and after but seriously if you want to look amazing during labor and you want to have the image of a perfectly clean labor then you're allowed to, because yes, it IS possible.
My point is people need to stop talking so much crap. You can look gorgeous in these Hot Mama Gowns, with your hair done, toes pretty, makeup on... whatever your heart desires!!
On the subject of Motherhood... no, it's not gorgeous 24/7 and idk who says it is BUT the majority of it is amazing. Watching this thing you crated learn and grow on a daily basis IS amazing. The trials we go thru with motherhood can be stressful and hard but that doesn't mean it's not fun and that the hard times overrule the good times.
awww its almost time! you look fabulous!!!
ReplyDeleteHottie! Seriously you look awesome! I always did my makeup before & after I had my babies, & L did my hair ;)
ReplyDeleteLove this!
ReplyDeleteSince this was my 3rd kid, I didn't really care what I looked like during labor, but I so couldn't wait o take that nice after showr, which didn't happen for a whole day because I couldn't walk.
ReplyDeleteI do not hate or blame you for wanting to look nice. And I am so jealous of those PJs. I would so have worn those over teh hospital gowns. lol.
I have to echo the one poster who said that post-birth is a pretty messy prospect, and it's one less thing to think about if you wear the hospital's gowns and happen to bleed on them. Hence the reason I wore the hospital's mesh undies too, despite bringing a cotton nightgown and my own underwear to the hospital. And I swore I would look good in my pictures with my baby in my hospital bed, so I packed makeup too, but I never got to take that picture as my baby was whisked off to the special care nursery about four hours after birth (at 6am the next morning). And after that, the last thing I cared about was looking good or putting on makeup. I was sore, getting checked all over by nurses every few hours, bleeding like crazy, needed help to use the bathroom (! - you'll get over the naked thing quick), and was actually happy to NOT have to worry about what I was wearing or what I looked like. Sure, after a couple days it felt great to take a shower and try to fix my hair and use some makeup so I could feel a little more human. But it was far from a priority when my baby was sick and I was trying to figure out motherhood for the first time. Please understand I'm not saying this stuff to scare you or to question your choice to look good. I think it's a great goal. I've enjoyed watching your journey through your Parenting blog and then here and am looking forward to Lil' J's birth and all that follows. But sort of like your post about the stroller/baby monitor situation, you shouldn't count your chickens before they're hatched. There's nothing wrong with being prepared, but life just doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes with kids you find that your priorities get turned upside down in an instant! Much like you've done with your birth plan, you might want to look at this the same way and just take it as it comes. If you can look great, fantastic. But if you get to that point and just don't plain feel like it (for whatever reason), don't feel like you've failed yourself. There's a lot worse things in life than looking crappy in baby photos :) Best wishes for a speedy, healthy, and beautiful delivery! (Oh, and June 20 (Father's Day) is a great day to go...that's my son's birthday!)
ReplyDeletei have to tell you. . . i secretly giggled when i read this post. i went to the hospital with makeup on. . . but was so tired and worn out from labor that there was no way i was reapplying afterward. as i read this, i was thinking "this is a little over the top". . .
ReplyDeleteBUT your words "Hate all you want, I'm doin' me" have been stuck in my head ever since. I've been having a problem comparing myself to other new mommies lately, and I'm trying to come to terms with these feelings. I haven't felt such insecurities since high school. I'm working on a post about self respect, but in the meantime, your words are hitting home. "I'm doin' me."
those are so stylish, you are going to be the hottest mama at the hospital. those bleh normal gowns are hideous, with their bootie exposing back panels. why settle for normal when you can be fabulous?
ReplyDeleteYou look beautiful, I loved both designs.
ReplyDeleteWow! Nice LOL I wish i had these when I had my kids! And Girl yes i had my hair in braids and make up on the whole time LOL...I had to stay looking cute..you know everybody be talking later about ooo girl did you look ruff..NOT ME HAHAHA!
ReplyDeleteI have to echo the one poster who said that post-birth is a pretty messy prospect, and it's one less thing to think about if you wear the hospital's gowns and happen to bleed on them. Hence the reason I wore the hospital's mesh undies too, despite bringing a cotton nightgown and my own underwear to the hospital. And I swore I would look good in my pictures with my baby in my hospital bed, so I packed makeup too, but I never got to take that picture as my baby was whisked off to the special care nursery about four hours after birth (at 6am the next morning). And after that, the last thing I cared about was looking good or putting on makeup. I was sore, getting checked all over by nurses every few hours, bleeding like crazy, needed help to use the bathroom (! - you'll get over the naked thing quick), and was actually happy to NOT have to worry about what I was wearing or what I looked like. Sure, after a couple days it felt great to take a shower and try to fix my hair and use some makeup so I could feel a little more human. But it was far from a priority when my baby was sick and I was trying to figure out motherhood for the first time. Please understand I'm not saying this stuff to scare you or to question your choice to look good. I think it's a great goal. I've enjoyed watching your journey through your Parenting blog and then here and am looking forward to Lil' J's birth and all that follows. But sort of like your post about the stroller/baby monitor situation, you shouldn't count your chickens before they're hatched. There's nothing wrong with being prepared, but life just doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes with kids you find that your priorities get turned upside down in an instant! Much like you've done with your birth plan, you might want to look at this the same way and just take it as it comes. If you can look great, fantastic. But if you get to that point and just don't plain feel like it (for whatever reason), don't feel like you've failed yourself. There's a lot worse things in life than looking crappy in baby photos :) Best wishes for a speedy, healthy, and beautiful delivery! (Oh, and June 20 (Father's Day) is a great day to go...that's my son's birthday!)
ReplyDeleteThis whole birthing process is not as cute as you make it out to be. If you give vaginal birth you will be bleeding way after you give birth. I'm not talking period blood I'm talking a sea of fluid & blood coming out of your body for weeks. You will not want to mess those clothes up, even if their washable, you won't be washing them at the hospital. Trust me you would want to wear the hospital gowns where it's okay to mess them up. I guess you could wear these for pictures.
ReplyDeleteThese are fabulous, what a great idea!!
ReplyDeleteYou look great by the way!! :)
I just found out that I am expecting and i'm definitely looking into these!!
Good luck!! Xxx
xxx
As long as you're not GBS+ my advice would be to ask for no IV and if they insist, request a heparin lock (no tubing).
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your gown choices!
Doula Dianne
www.douladianne.blogspot.com
Congrats, you look beautiful and I hope to see pics of you and Baby J on her debut! The gowns as usual are super fabulous. Good luck momma she'll be here before you know it!
ReplyDeleteTotally love Drake. Been a fan since he was Jimmy on Degrassi. And labor isn't all that messy. I was able to deliver and not get my gown dirty. And they were nice enough to lay a blanket down before they laid Moo down on my chest. I got to clean her off and everything!!
ReplyDelete