Everyone feels differently. Studies show that it is better for baby to go directly to your chest, but I can understand if you want a clean baby. Right now sitting here I sort of feel the same way, but I also know that when I have her I'm with Bonzer, I don't care if she's covered in $hit, I just want my baby.
I've been going back and forth on that one all pg.....including the guilt I've felt over thinking of it at all..but hey, when you have as weak a stomach as I do (yes, I was much closer to passing out than my hubby was watching a labor video...yikes) I can't help it. I don't need her to be all shiney and scrubbed off, just a quick rubdown to get rid of that sac is all I ask...
I'm sure in the moment I'm not going to care one bit though...
This your first? If so, those feelings can be totally normal at this point, you've still got a ways to go. Be prepared though, chances are once you get to the point of delivery, you will want your baby regardless! Like Bonzer said...even if he's covered in sh!t.
Since you asked for my opinion, I think its not realistic. I mean no one wants blood and guts on them, but this will be your newborn, its different. The same newborn you have to change. Its a maternal instinct to want your baby, as is. Maybe once you give birth your whole perspective will change. But I kind of understand, theoretically.
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seems weird to me. i cant wait to hold her. ive asked them to not take her to bathe her or anything for atleast an hour. you may change your mind when you actually give birth.
Well since #1 was early and so they couldn't just put him on my belly which was so sad. This time that is what I am looking forward to. I don't care what they look like. I will be grateful to just get a healthy baby to hold right away. Can't say it's wrong though. Maybe you can ask for them to wipe them off first but my guess is, as it's happening, you won't care just like you won't care about any of the other stuff like if you're groomed, if you poop, or whatever else might happen.
I can see where it seems gross, but not only will you want the baby (I think) but also, skin to skin contact is incredibly good for the baby, not just psychologically, but physically. It allows the baby to be "colonized" by the same (healthful/beneficial/necessary) bacteria as the mother, which can help with good GI health, allergies, etc.
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
It's not even worth worrying about as it'll be the last thing on your mind at the time. And just b/c they wipe off the baby doesn't mean it won't immediately sh*t all over you like my daughter did to me. Babies are not clean animals.
This your first? If so, those feelings can be totally normal at this point, you've still got a ways to go. Be prepared though, chances are once you get to the point of delivery, you will want your baby regardless! Like Bonzer said...even if he's covered in sh!t.
This is very true. I swore up and down I wasn't going to hold DD until they had cleaned her up some, but as soon as she came out I was yelling at the doctor to hand her to me. I was dead set against it until that moment though.
This your first? If so, those feelings can be totally normal at this point, you've still got a ways to go. Be prepared though, chances are once you get to the point of delivery, you will want your baby regardless! Like Bonzer said...even if he's covered in sh!t.
this. when baby comes the last thing on your mind will be what slime is on the baby...
You likely won't care what the baby's covered in come D-day. I thought the whole touching the head thing was gross, but I ended up touching my baby's head when he crowned and it was really awesome.
2 things to consider - immediate skin to skin contact is very beneficial for baby and some of that slimy stuff (vernix) is actually protective so it's better not to wipe it off right away
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
The nurse at our childbirth class says they automatically clean up the baby after birth, unless you specifically request that they are placed on your belly. So, when you get closer, you may want to check the hospital procedures anyway.
I have thought about that too, but I know I'll be such a crying mess of emotion that I'll want her right away. They can wipe her off a bit as she lays on you, and I hear its only a few minutes anyway before shes wisked away and you deliver the placenta. (thats the part Im grossed out about!) But again, everyone says you dont even notice that part either.
I'm having a home birth, specifically hoping for a water birth, so at least I get a quick "rinse" before he's put on my chest. I know I probably won't care in the moment, but I am a bit squeamish about body fluids. Guess I had better get used to it!
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I am on my fourth and for each one I asked that the baby be cleaned up first. My worry was that I would drop them.
They just checked the baby out first and wiped them down. I think it was a delay of about 5 minutes tops. Ultimately, you need to decide what is best for you and your taking the baby home with you so for me 5 minutes was not a huge deal.
In my experience, there really isn't much "goo" anyway. My dr was wiping off her face and head as she was being delivered. Once her whole body was out, they put her on my chest (I was wearing a hospital gown, but I pulled it up to get skin-to-skin contact; you wouldn't have to do that if you didn't want). There was no blood, just some vernix. And as soon as she was on my chest, they covered her with a blanket and rubbed her to stimulate her (and clean her off a bit more). Then they had a hat on her to keep her warm. It all occured within a few seconds. I thought it was the most wonderful moment of my life, to have my baby on my chest within moments of delivery.
DH was on the business end of things when she was delivered, and he said it was not gross at all. He said it was nothing short of amazing.
When I had DD1, I seem to remember them wiping her down as she was placed on my belly. And it seems like there was a blanket there or something...but it wasn't as gross as I had originally thought it was going to be.
It was kind of embarrassing there for a minute though. I was in SUCH shock when they put her on my belly that I just froze. Literally. It took my SIL saying "E, you can touch her now!" (or something to that effect) before I actually touched her. I didn't know what to do, I totally panicked for about 30 seconds!!
I still swear that DS was born as clean as a whistle b/c I didn't notice any goop on him when they handed him over. Whenever I pronounce this, DH looks at me like I'm crazycakes. Apparently DS was a little slimy/icky, but I did not notice it at all.
I pushed for an hour and a half to get DS out - it's all a blur, but I do remember crying and asking for my baby immediately - I just wanted to hold him and see my "reward" for all my hard work!
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In my experience, there really isn't much "goo" anyway. My dr was wiping off her face and head as she was being delivered. Once her whole body was out, they put her on my chest (I was wearing a hospital gown, but I pulled it up to get skin-to-skin contact; you wouldn't have to do that if you didn't want). There was no blood, just some vernix. And as soon as she was on my chest, they covered her with a blanket and rubbed her to stimulate her (and clean her off a bit more). Then they had a hat on her to keep her warm. It all occured within a few seconds. I thought it was the most wonderful moment of my life, to have my baby on my chest within moments of delivery.
DH was on the business end of things when she was delivered, and he said it was not gross at all. He said it was nothing short of amazing.
This! It really is a matter of seconds, they don't do the whole bath thing right away. My first daughter was propped right into my arms, 2nd was taken to get some quick oxygen (in the same room) because her cord was around her neck and she was a little blue.
No joke, the first words out of my sister's mouth as her precious baby daughter was scooped up onto chest after she was born- "you aren't gross at all!"
My girlfriend had the hospital wipe off her first baby before they handed him to her. She was at a different hospital for the second and they didn't and it totally grossed her out. It's definitely a personal opinion kind of thing. I'd like my LO to be semi wiped off, at least her face before I start kissing on her or anything. We'll see when the time comes I guess, but for now, my plan is to ask them to wipe her face as they hand her to me or as soon as they put her on my stomach.
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You likely won't care what the baby's covered in come D-day. I thought the whole touching the head thing was gross, but I ended up touching my baby's head when he crowned and it was really awesome.
2 things to consider - immediate skin to skin contact is very beneficial for baby and some of that slimy stuff (vernix) is actually protective so it's better not to wipe it off right away
This-- I thought the whole "touching the head" thing was gross too but they told me I should, and I pretty much did whatever they told me to do at that point, and it was great! As for the baby being all gooey and slimy, you will be so happy that the baby is finally out, that you won't care...I promise It's such a fantastic moment when the baby is born-- you won't get caught up in details.
Re: Is this weird.. - after baby comes out..
::::::: shrugs::::::::: it's your personal feelings so I don't see how they can be wrong.. it is weird to me.
I just wanted my baby in my arms, I didn't care if he was covered in sh11t.
I've been going back and forth on that one all pg.....including the guilt I've felt over thinking of it at all..but hey, when you have as weak a stomach as I do (yes, I was much closer to passing out than my hubby was watching a labor video...yikes) I can't help it. I don't need her to be all shiney and scrubbed off, just a quick rubdown to get rid of that sac is all I ask...
I'm sure in the moment I'm not going to care one bit though...
I know a lot of people who feel this way. It is not weird.
Honestly, it is all such a blur when that baby finally comes out you really don't care about the goo. You just want to meet your baby.
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
This is very true. I swore up and down I wasn't going to hold DD until they had cleaned her up some, but as soon as she came out I was yelling at the doctor to hand her to me. I was dead set against it until that moment though.
You likely won't care what the baby's covered in come D-day. I thought the whole touching the head thing was gross, but I ended up touching my baby's head when he crowned and it was really awesome.
2 things to consider - immediate skin to skin contact is very beneficial for baby and some of that slimy stuff (vernix) is actually protective so it's better not to wipe it off right away
~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
I am on my fourth and for each one I asked that the baby be cleaned up first. My worry was that I would drop them.
They just checked the baby out first and wiped them down. I think it was a delay of about 5 minutes tops. Ultimately, you need to decide what is best for you and your taking the baby home with you so for me 5 minutes was not a huge deal.
In my experience, there really isn't much "goo" anyway. My dr was wiping off her face and head as she was being delivered. Once her whole body was out, they put her on my chest (I was wearing a hospital gown, but I pulled it up to get skin-to-skin contact; you wouldn't have to do that if you didn't want). There was no blood, just some vernix. And as soon as she was on my chest, they covered her with a blanket and rubbed her to stimulate her (and clean her off a bit more). Then they had a hat on her to keep her warm. It all occured within a few seconds. I thought it was the most wonderful moment of my life, to have my baby on my chest within moments of delivery.
DH was on the business end of things when she was delivered, and he said it was not gross at all. He said it was nothing short of amazing.
When I had DD1, I seem to remember them wiping her down as she was placed on my belly. And it seems like there was a blanket there or something...but it wasn't as gross as I had originally thought it was going to be.
It was kind of embarrassing there for a minute though. I was in SUCH shock when they put her on my belly that I just froze. Literally. It took my SIL saying "E, you can touch her now!" (or something to that effect) before I actually touched her. I didn't know what to do, I totally panicked for about 30 seconds!!
I still swear that DS was born as clean as a whistle b/c I didn't notice any goop on him when they handed him over. Whenever I pronounce this, DH looks at me like I'm crazycakes. Apparently DS was a little slimy/icky, but I did not notice it at all.
I pushed for an hour and a half to get DS out - it's all a blur, but I do remember crying and asking for my baby immediately - I just wanted to hold him and see my "reward" for all my hard work!
This! It really is a matter of seconds, they don't do the whole bath thing right away. My first daughter was propped right into my arms, 2nd was taken to get some quick oxygen (in the same room) because her cord was around her neck and she was a little blue.
No joke, the first words out of my sister's mouth as her precious baby daughter was scooped up onto chest after she was born- "you aren't gross at all!"
This-- I thought the whole "touching the head" thing was gross too but they told me I should, and I pretty much did whatever they told me to do at that point, and it was great! As for the baby being all gooey and slimy, you will be so happy that the baby is finally out, that you won't care...I promise
It's such a fantastic moment when the baby is born-- you won't get caught up in details.