>Right, so, that's why I asked about what is reasonable to recommend 
>in a culture (USA) where people shower daily or every other day, and 
>telling a woman who is all sweaty and bloody that she can't wash for 
>several weeks is unreasonable.  (Even after I gave birth at home, 
>the midwives turned on my shower for me after the first breastfeed.) 
>Can she wash in those first few days, just not with soap?  Or not 
>with scented soap?  Are there any studies on this?  Any guidelines 
>such as "don't shower until you've had 2 good latches," or some 
>such?  People ask me about this, and I've kind of been making it up 
>because I don't know. 
>
>Thanks,Julie Tardos


How about 'there are no evidence-based guidelines about this as far 
as we know, so you can have a shower or bath whenever you like and 
when it suits you...we don't think it's a good idea to use strongly 
scented toiletries at this stage, though, as your baby is sensitive 
to smell...would you like me to help you into the shower/bath when 
you want to do it?'

:)

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK
-- 

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