Ann Perry writes: "I really don't care if a provider has to wear gloves for a few more hours but really would like to see data on this. The other mind set that really needs to be changed is parents. They think the bath is so important and don't want their baby to be "dirty." We really have a long way in educating the public on this one but I am trying. If folks want to respond to me privately, that would be fine. Thanks for any and all responses." I think it is interesting that it is assumed parents "want" the baby bathed. I really question whether this has more to do with what they are told in hospital tours, childbirth classes, etc than with an innate expectation. When I do prenatal education, I explain to parents the interference with attachment and breastfeeding caused by such interventions and the trauma experienced by the baby. That is really all I have found it takes for most parents to "get it". I have had dads tell me afterwards that they were badgered to allow the nurses to bathe the baby when they refused. I would guess that if parents were told in childbirth classes about theses concerns, at least a percentage would refuse the early bath and when it was done, do it themselves. The other issue, of course, is that babies aren't so bloody when moms are not cut or torn open from being forced to birth on their backs. At a homebirth, it would never occur to anyone to dry a baby off before mom nurses, nor is there ever any rush to bathe a baby. My babies weren't bathed for a couple of days (I had no desire to wash away that lovely newborn scent!!). Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA ________________________________________________________________________ Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free. *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html