Weird question

kim1989 · March 2011

Well only women who have actually had babies already can answer really... but how well is the baby cleaned before they give it to you to hold?

It?s an odd question I know but I?ve watched a lot of programmes where they hand it straight to the mum then take it away to clean.

I love my baby already don?t get me wrong, but will I sound really bad if I ask them to only hand it to me after they?ve cleaned all blood off it?

I faint at the sight of blood sometimes and it would be the worst thing for that to happen :-p

Do I just sound stupid saying that or is it a reasonable request?

Lissa832 · March 2011

I asked them to clean DS and check him out before I held him. The staff looked at me like I was crazy, and everyone said I'd regret it. I, on the other hand, am disgusted when I see goopy babies being kissed by their moms. I have a major gag reflex, and I would vomit. I don't regret my decision one bit, and I plan to do the same this time around. I just get too grossed out by slimy babies. Many times, unless you inform them otherwise, they will place the baby on your chest right after it's born. They'll start to wipe it down then. That doesn't work for me. Do what makes you comfortable.

Mish2g · March 2011

I havent had kids yet, and I'm so looking forward to this child, but I do not want it until it's cleaned off. My husband thinks I'll change my mind when the time comes, but I'm already grossed out thinking of a bloody baby being put on my chest...I dont want any part of it. Ew...I feel you.

kim1989 · March 2011

thanks, glad to know I?m not the only one then. I thought I was weird and that it made me sound like a bad mum not wanting to hold them straight away

mothling · March 2011

I think it depends on the hospital and your birth plan. With DS, they put him right on my chest and wiped him off a little while he was there, but I had requested skin to skin right away in my birth plan. I'm sure they get requests for both ways, so if that's what you want, go ahead and ask.

abrazz · March 2011

She came out and the doctor held her for me to see then they wisked her away and it was 45 minutes before I got to hold her. This time I want the baby right away in all it's gooey glory. If I remember correctly she wasn't bloody, she just had the white stuff all over her. You may change your mind after you deliver but otherwise you can just have the baby taken away and cleaned up before you hold it.

rubyshoes7 · March 2011

No, that's not stupid. It's just a preference, especially if you get faint. They just wiped him off a little, handed him to me, and after a few minutes they did a more thorough cleaning.

bellethebride · March 2011

I think it depends on your preferences and the hospital. I didn't specifically ask for anything. When DS was born, they quickly wiped him off, made sure he looked ok (NICU was there because he was a preemie). Then they gave him to me within a couple of minutes.

While they moved me to the recovery room, from the delivery room, they took DS and DH (and even MIL) to have him thoroughly checked and cleaned while they got me comfortable and fed me. It seemed a little odd, because for 1/2 hour I wasn't really hungry but wanted to see my little guy!

water-fairy · March 2011

DS was very clean but he was also not handed to me right away since he was overdue and had possible meconium in the lungs, so they had to clean and check him up for a while.

wnk1029 · March 2011

The vernix (goopy white stuff) that covers a baby after birth actually serves a very good purpose. Besides protecting them in the uterus, some studies have shown that it has antibacterial qualities that can protect him or her from infections. Rubbing it into the baby's skin instead of cleaning it off can actually serve as a natural moisturizer for the baby's delicate skin and can prevent them from getting dry patches that are common in newborns.

I think just learning about what the "goop" was and what its use was really removed the "ick" factor for me.

kim1989 · March 2011

The awkward thing is that I live in a Spanish speaking country but only speak english so I can only tell my fiance (who is from here) to translate everything to them and vice versa, so it?s even more complicated for me.

But I definately don?t think I could hold them straight away so that?s definately something I?ll tell him to translate :-p

michellechacon · March 2011

I think I'm the opposite. If possible, I'd like to give birth while squatting, or on the bed on my knees and if I can I'd love to catch the baby as I push it out... I'd also like to give it its first bath... maybe I'm gross!

lucylea · March 2011

They asked my preference and had I had a vaginal delivery I had requested that baby be wiped down a bit and swaddled before being handed to me. I don't mind the vernix, but I didn't want blood all over. As it was I had a c-section so they popped DD over the screen to let me see her, then went over to rub in the vernix and swaddle her before settling her in beside me with DH.

Azrayla · March 2011

DD was one day from 37 weeks so they labeled her premie.. She had to have blood sugar tests and told me they couldnt bathe her till the testing was done..so pretty much she got a bath in the middle of the night.. (she was born at 2:32 pm) She was cleaned pretty well with a little white stuff still by her ears and stuff..

She didnt smell or anything but it was nice when she finally got a bath

JaysonandKristin · March 2011

kim1989:
The awkward thing is that I live in a Spanish speaking country but only speak english so I can only tell my fiance (who is from here) to translate everything to them and vice versa, so it?s even more complicated for me.
But I definately don?t think I could hold them straight away so that?s definately something I?ll tell him to translate :-p

Limpia a mijo por favor

or

Limpia a mija por favor

That should do it.

CNAMamaof2 · March 2011

My doctor asked if I wanted DD or wanted her to get cleaned up first. Since I was exhausted, wanted to get stitched up, deliver the placenta and collect myself a bit I asked them to clean her up first. Nobody looked at me like I was nuts or judged me. Its a personal decision.

Woodwife · March 2011

The hospital staff won't judge you - you just tell them what you want and it will happen!

If it's any consolation to you, DS was handed to me straight out of the womb and he wasn't bloody or chalky at all - he just looked wet. The midwives wiped his face to clear his eyes and nose, but nothing else. So really, he wasn't at all alarming! His skin was pink and his eyes were open and he was making little cheeping noises - he looked like a regular, wet baby!

They did wash him quickly for us when I got up to go to the bathroom for the first time - and honey, THAT was far scarier than the new baby - and it just fluffed his hair up a bit. So you might not be traumatized by an alarming sight!

But you tell the staff what you want and it will be fine. No guilt necessary.

bumpuser5468658 · March 2011

I'm sure no one will judge you. I find it kinda funny though because I never really discussed it with my Dr. So when my little girl was born they just plopped her on a blanket on my chest and wiped her off there and thene did skin to skin. I always thought it was soooo gross and that they should clean them up first, but in the moment I didn't really care and it was pretty special to me just the way it was....even though she did pee on me lol!!

hillausky · March 2011

When I had my son they just kind of plopped him onto my chest and I had no time to say anything...it happened so fast and I was so focused on a million other things I don't even remember it happening. I look at the pics and I am kind of grossed out but it really doesn't matter in the end.

bluerevolution9 · March 2011

I am expecting my first baby, but I am a doula so I have been to a lot of births. I have had women who said they were grossed out by the thought of the baby being put on them before it was cleaned, but I have yet to have a women that in the moment of birth still ask them to take the baby to clean before holding him/her. Even the most squirmish about it were still happy to hold their babies right away goo or no goo. But just FYI there is far less blood than most people think. Babies don't really come out covered in blood. Most just come out with some vernix (the white coating). The nurses tend to start rubbing them once they are on your stomach so you won't see the goo for long. And to be honest, there is blood involved in childbirth. But seeing as you got pregnant I assume you had your period for many years so you are used to seeing your own blood. Its kinda like that. When the placenta comes out there is some blood with it, but you probably won't even notice because you will be so in love with your baby you won't notice anything else

NikkiCola · March 2011

I dont think that is gross at all! That is how I would love to deliver, but my husband wants to catch the baby Smile

Go ahead with the first bath!! Baby only gets one!

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