One more post on the topic of baby baths:
Step 4 of UNICEF's Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative states: Help Mothers
initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth (in all other nations than
the US, it's 30 minutes; the time parameter here is 60 minutes, I am not
sure why--and this, BTW, was the only change made in the TEn Steps for the
US).
  The fine print about this step reads:
"All mothers should be given their infant to hold with skin-to-skin contact
within 30minutes of birth and for about half an hour unless medically
contraindicated, and offered help by a staff member to initiate
breastfeeding when the baby seems ready (at least within one hour of birth).
Infant care procedures (e.g., eye care, cord care, bathing,* and any other
procedures requiring separation of mother and baby should be delayed until
after this initial period of skin-to-skin contact unless medically
contraindicated, and should be conducted whenever feasible at the mother's
bedside."  *(italics mine)

At the facility where I work (designated Baby Friendly in August 97), we
genreally offer a bath at around 2 hours, but don't insist on one.  If the
parents decline a bath for their baby, we wear gloves whenever we need to
touch the baby.  When we do give baths (which most parents want), we have a
plain old plastic tub that we put about 2-3 inches of water in, and place
right on the mom's bed.  Dads and older sibs often help with the bath.

If anyone wants refs that support Step 4, start by checking the bib in the
WONDERFUL article from BIRTH 23:3 September 1996, Ten Steps to Successful
Breastfeeding: A Summary of the Rationale and Scientific Evidence, by Saadeh
and Akre.  UNICEF has just published a great new book, Evidence for the ten
Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.  It costs US $18 and can be ordered from
Baby Friendly USA.

Finally, congratulations are in order for all Oregon women, and all Oregon
breastfeeding advocates!  SB 744, which gives women the right to breastfeed
their children in public, passed the Oregon House recently, 57-1, having
already passed the Senate UNANIMOUSLY!!  I am so thrilled and proud to have
been part of the process.

Martha Johnson RN IBCLC
Eugene, Oregon (where it is so cold I turned my heat back on this AM)

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