Hospital Bath Yay or Nay?

MGM81 · November 2014

I recently preregistered for our hospital check in. After loads of personal info,insurance & medical history there was a section of boxes.
The boxes asked if we wish to have our new born baby bathed at the hospital after delivery. I had to read it a few times b/c I thought if was for me but no it was for "baby" I checked some articles and did find that there are pros and con's to newborns being bathed right after birth. My first 2 children were bathed at the hospital but now after reading some info on the protection of keeping there "vernix" (waxy cream cheese on there skin) I am considering prolonging 1st bath for our boy a week or two.

I do want his face & hair cleaned off. We did check the box for doing the eye ointment cream - anyone else holding off on first bath at the hospital?

howin23 · November 2014

My hospital simply asks who should do the first bath. The options are nurse, nurse with hubby, or hubby on his own. I'm going with nurse and hubby together. I didn't realize that no bath might be an option.

kfo22 · November 2014

I think no bath would be best (until a few days/week after), according to all the natural antibacterial properties research has found in vernix. Our birth instructor suggested rubbing it in like lotion.

She swears that fresh babies smell sooo sweet.... although I never thought the cheesy vernix looked sweet. :P

JFH2010 · November 2014

The default at the hospital where I delivered is no bath. We gave T his first bath yesterday at a week old.

runningmama14 · November 2014

My lo came out with hardly no vernix left at all! What he had was rubbed in during skin to skin. When he was about 8 hours old, the nurse came in and bathed him.

lovingaddi · November 2014

We chose to skip the bath right away, but she did get a sponge bath about 12 hours after delivery. The vernix didn't come off though

BabySchroeder2014 · November 2014

Much of the vernix is absorbed in the first 24 hours, so our son will be having his bath at the hospital after the 24 hour mark. We are also bringing our own natural & organic baby wash to use instead of using what the hospital has.

soulcupcake · November 2014

My youngest didn't receive his first bath until a week old, and we'll do the same again this time.

mockingjay1 · November 2014

I'll be giving our baby's first bath when I feel up to it after my c-section, so it will probably be at least 8-10 hours after he's born.

MuchlyGen · November 2014

Having a home birth, but we will probably wait at least a few days to a week for her first bath - just wipe down parts as they need it in the meantime.

torontokim · November 2014

We were told our hospital won't give baby a bath due to the health benefits. So we will be bathing baby when we get him/her home!

MGM81 · November 2014

I am looking forward to bonding with baby and including siblings for baby first bath at home. I agree for health benefits, we will see how many days but I was thinking a week

wallygirl · November 2014

I actually don't know what the options are with a normal L&D at the hospital where I'm delivering. DD was in the NICU for 8 days and couldn't have a bath. She didn't get her first bath till she was 5 or 6 days old.

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