It limits the risk of infection. Common bacterial infections for newborns include Group B Strep and E. Coli which can lead to pneumonia and meningitis. By delaying the first bath, you are allowing the vernix to continue working as a safety net for your little one's immune system.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends delaying baby's first bath until 24 hours after birth—or waiting at least 6 hours if a full day isn't possible for cultural reasons.
Delaying the first bath provides more initial skin-to-skin time between mother and baby, and preserves smell -- an important factor that encourages babies to latch during breastfeeding. Your newborn baby wants to be as close to you and your breasts as they can get.
In those first few weeks postpartum, your cervix is still somewhat dilated, regardless of whether you had a vaginal delivery or a c-section. There's a theory – though no research has confirmed this – that tub water could travel into your uterus, introduce bacteria, and cause an infection.
There is no set age when you should give your baby a bath. Babies get cold quickly, and that's more risky for them than being a bit dirty. If you're anxious about bathing your little one, you don't need to put them into a bath until you feel confident about it.
Don't put your baby in the tub for a few weeks after he or she is born. It's best to sponge-bathe your infant until the umbilical cord falls off and is completely healed. After that, you can place your baby in the water, making sure to support the head and neck at all times. Your baby doesn't need a bath every day.
If your baby is full-term and healthy, you can give your newborn her first bath as soon as you like. It's best to wait at least an hour after the birth , and to keep the first bath short, no more than five to 10 minutes (AWHONN 2013, Blume-Peytavi et al 2009).
The risk of having a complication after delivery is highest during the first two weeks after delivery. But waiting will also give your body time to heal. In addition to postpartum discharge and vaginal tears, you might experience fatigue, vaginal dryness, pain and low sexual desire.
Having a hot bath one hour after welcoming your baby into the world can dilate the blood vessels in your uterus, potentially leading to increased bleeding, dizziness and fainting. To take care of postpartum perineal pain after vaginal delivery, you can start taking a sitz bath 12 hours after giving birth.
The aim of the first bath is to remove undesired fluids as blood and meconium on the newborn's body and to provide hydration to the stratum corneum of the newborn's skin in order to maintain skin integrity, barrier function property and body temperature [1].
Reduced risk of infection
Babies are born covered in a white substance called vernix, which is composed of the skin cells your baby made early in development. Vernix contains proteins that prevent common bacterial infections. Think of vernix as a sort of natural antibacterial ointment.
The first hour after birth when a mother has uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with her newborn is referred to as the “golden hour.” This period of time is critical for a newborn baby who spent the past nine months in a controlled environment.
If you've had stitches after tearing or an episiotomy (cut), bathe them every day to help prevent infection. Have a bath or shower with plain warm water then carefully pat yourself dry. If your stitches are sore or uncomfortable, tell your midwife.
According to Baby Centre, you need to wait because you're losing lochia as your uterus heals, and penetration before the bleeding halts could quickly lead to an infection. So, as a result, the general wait time before penetration, including fingering, is four to six weeks or when your doctor's given you approval.
The cervix generally doesn't close fully for around six weeks, so up until that point, there's the risk of introducing bacteria into the uterus and ending up with an infection, Pari Ghodsi, M.D., a board-certified ob/gyn based in Los Angeles, tells SELF.
Expect it to take around six weeks for your uterus to contract fully. At six weeks, you may have already lost the weight you gained during pregnancy. This is especially true if you're breastfeeding.
The American Academy of Pediatrics stated that tub bathing performed before the separation of umbilical cord may leave the umbilical cord wet and predispose infection by delaying its separation; thus, it is required to make sponge bathing until the umbilical cord falls off (14).
Yes! You can bathe with your baby as long as it's safe to do so, meaning, you're following all safety precautions. Bathing with your baby is a great bonding activity as it increases the skin-to-skin contact with your little one.
When to Stop Swaddling Your Baby. You should stop swaddling your baby when they start to roll over. That's typically between two and four months. During this time, your baby might be able to roll onto their tummy, but not be able to roll back over.
To clean your baby's labia, wet a cotton ball with warm water, hold your baby's legs apart and wipe between the labia with the cotton ball. Start at the front and gently wipe backwards. Use a new cotton ball if you need to wipe again. Dry your baby's genital area by gently patting with a soft towel.
While there's no harm in getting the stump wet, sponge baths might make it easier to keep the stump dry. Let the stump fall off on its own. Resist the temptation to pull off the stump yourself.
After the cord stump has fallen off, keep the area clean and dry until the area heals completely. It helps to fold the top of your baby's nappy down so that the belly button is exposed to air.
Instead, it's a nurse, midwife or OB pressing on your uterus through your abdominal wall, in order to help it shrink. This is often done in addition to Pitocin (artificial oxytocin), which studies show can also help your uterus shrink quickly.
Bleeding often lasts for around for four to six weeks, but could last up to 12 weeks after your baby's born (RCOG, 2016). If you're worried, you can talk to a health professional. Bleeding will start off heavy and red to browny red. It will become lighter in colour and flow over time (NHS, 2021).
To cleanse the area, use the "squirt" water bottle you got in the hospital. After you go to the bathroom, rinse from front to back with warm water. Continue these rinses for as long as you have vaginal bleeding. Pat (don't wipe) from front to back to dry.