Anyone who has ever had a baby will no doubt remember just how amazing and nerve-wracking that very first bath often is.
I remember not knowing how to actually hold my baby so her head was supported and yet her body was in the water, and I was terrified she’s be scared/cold/angry – you name it, I worried about it. As I am sure most first-time parents do too.
My little girl’s first bath was in the hospital, on day three of her life, the day we left hospital, in fact. However, only a couple of years later, when my now toddler was born, I was told there was no need to bathe him in the hospital (I only stayed for one night, in fairness), and that I could wait until i got home and got settled before giving him a bath.
Having googled it (as you do) it turns out there is actually a growing body of research out there arguing that you should in fact wait to wash your baby after birth. Even more interesting? Some are now arguing that not only should you not wash the vernix off (that while, waxy substance that often is all overs babies’ skin when they are born), you should instead actively rub it into your baby’s skin.
Scientist have become more and more interested in vernix in the past few years, and have, in fact, discovered that it has all kinds of protective properties for babies.
Curious? Well, here are just some of the benefits some experts now argue vernix has:
It’s antibacterial
The vernix has been found to have antibacterial properties, which has led some researchers to believe that it forms a protective barrier against infection in the early days. In fact, the immune proteins found in the vernix are similar to antimicrobial peptides in breast milk.
It’s moisturising
Leaving the vernix on the skin after birth has been found to improve skin hydration, and avoid your baby getting dry skin.
It balances the skin’s natural pH levels
Skin pH has been found to be lower when the vernix is left on.
It reduces rashes
Newborns who retain the vernix have been found to have less skin redness and fewer rashes.
In the UK, NHS guidelines actually recommend allowing the vernix to absorb naturally into the skin, and according to the World Health Organization, vernix should not be removed from the skin of newborn infants and bathing should be delayed for at least 6 hours after birth.
How soon after giving birth did YOu bath your baby, mamas? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @Herfamilydotie
