It's a real shame that we rush the baths. Here, it's done immediately, as soon as the temp can be "proven." Of course, they drop temp quickly and have to be then placed under a bun warmer. Babies are handled with gloves because they're "dirty" with fluid (even dried fluid is "dirty."). I would like babies handled with gloves, because *we* are dirty. Wash hands *before* handling a baby!

The bigger picture is, the less we mess with the newborn, the more likely they'll stay healthy. The amniotic fluid protects the baby's skin, the vernix protects the baby's skin. The amniotic fluid has the same smell as their mother's milk, once that's washed off, the babies tend to lose their target. Ever noticed how a newborn lays with his/her hands up under the chin/nose? They keep refreshing their target as they smell their hands. If their hands smell like baby soap, where's their target?

The largest organ of the human body is the skin, doesn't it make sense to keep protective measures intact for as long as possible?

Best wishes,
Sam Doak

We're going to Candy Mountain, Charlie!

<<

Marianne... I think there is an OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) rule that requires that a newborn who may still have any of mom's body fluid, including blood or amniotic fluid, on its body must be handled with gloved hands only.  It's pretty silly, IMO, but I think that's where that protocol originated.>>

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