My unit's policy is that  the nurse caring for the baby who has not been
bathed should wear gloves. This is because the baby has blood (among
other things) on his skin and in his hair. We give the first bath when
the baby is stable enough for it. The same is true on the maternity unit.

There is no reason this bath must be traumatic for the baby, though.
I've seen immersion baths on OB that the parents participated in, and
the baby seemed quite content.

It makes me feel very uncomfortable when I hear things like this 'We give
the first bath...'- even if it's in the best circumstances/intentions, I
want to say 'Whoooa, who's baby is this??' -before I get shouted at ;-) I do
realise that there are reasons for most things etc. but it's certainly my
first thought.  There is no reason as far as I can see that a bath can't
wait until the mum is fit/well enough to do it herself (even if necessary
with supervision the first time),if and when she wants to.  Lets hand the
'mothering' to the mothers and get rid of unneccesary interventions and
'medicalising' this normal 'condition'.

Sorry...
Pam
ABM BFC UK

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