I work in a teaching hospital in NSW - we have never bathed the babies at birth. The hospital has been open for > 30 years. The first bath was left to the next day (ie about 24 hours or so). The stress and risk of dropping the temperature was considered unnecessary. Plus it was considered the right of the parents to do the first bath if the parents were able to. There was no research behind it - it made sense 30 years ago. Gwen Gwen Moody CNC Postnatal Care Westmead Hospital PO Box 533 Wentworthville 2145 Phone: 02 9845 6964, 0422212774 Fax: 02 9845 8340 Page: 02 9845 5555 - 01135 email: [log in to unmask] >>> [log in to unmask] 24/01/2009 11:48 am >>> I would think that infection control would not be an issue here. In our hospital newborns are given their first hep-b and vitamin k injections during the immediate newborn assessment which creates a greater risk for infection with the break in skin integrity. This is usually within the first hour unless a birth-plan specifies differently. The vernix caseosa, in which the neonate is covered in, serves as a skin protectant for the infant while in utero. I bathed my own 4 children about 24 hours after delivery and rubbed the vernix into their skin prior to the bath as it is an excellent moisturizer for them as well. The instant bath only serves to be an additional shock to someone who had been pushed out into a loud, bright, cold, and handsy world. Newborn baths are essentially more of a comfort/convenience thing for some families and staff. Personally- I would encourage not separating mom and baby, unless medically necessary, when they are both just learning to breastfeed. Another option would be to encourage mom and dad to give baby his or her first bath when they are ready, this is an excellent opportunity for patient education in infant hygiene. The only problem I could see is a minor inconvenience for the nursing staff who would be required to wear gloves when handling the baby in reference to body fluid contact. (I suppose if there were an existing disease process requiring the removal of this protective layer then breastfeeding may well be contraindicated as well, would it not?) I will attempt to find some evidence based info and pass it on to you. In the mean time, according to Old's Maternal-Newborn & Women's Health Across the Lifespan text "...it is absorbed within 24 hours after birth..." I should also mention that Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children states that "...attempts to remove vernix through bathing is avoided to prevent tissue damage...vernix will disappear after several days." I hope this helps. Natasha Sears, LPN RN on the OB unit in 5 more months! *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome ______________________________________________________________________________ This electronic message and any attachments may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this message would you please delete the message and any attachments and advise the sender. Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS) uses virus scanning software but excludes any liability for viruses contained in any email or attachment. This email may contain privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the addressees named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of this email is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify SWAHS immediately. Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender except where the sender expressly and with authority states them to be the views of SWAHS. *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome