Skin to skin at birth - is this really 'nice' with a slimey baby?

It's fab!

Better than nice, it's bliss.

Yes it is. My baby boy was delivered straight into my arms, gunk and all, and it was absolutely perfect. He didn't cry, just stared up at me with beautiful big navy blue eyes. It's your child, you spend the rest of your life loving them no matter what so why should a bit of mess (that came from you by the way) interfere with your first meeting? You've waited nine long months for it afterall! It's not dirty or unhealthy, it's natural and it CAN be washed off!

Believe it or not, I don't remember any sliminess. I remember DD being handed to me right out of my womb! It was the happiest moment of my entire life. I think she was then whisked away immediately, cleaned up (as I was getting stitched up), and then handed immediately back to me to breastfeed. All of this happened so quickly, but I do remember those few seconds of seeing her for the first time! My doctor didn't give me a choice - it all happened so fast. You really won't want to miss it.

Echo all that Firstbump - you're going to want that baby IMEDIATLEY. My dp cut the cord, somethig he didn't think he'd ever be able to do and I was gently taken aback that he did it. You don't see anything apart from your child, your creation, and it's the best feeling in the solar system. If they gave you him or her in a towel you'd only open it stright away to take a really good luck at this little miracle you just made happen so sod the towel it'll just get in the way. Good luck and enjoy!

Dd2 was born and lifted straight on my chest and they covered us with a blanket - she started trying to crawl up to my breast for a feed, it was the most amazing thing ever! Highly recommended

I couldn't wait to be given my baby after each birth. It probably only took a few seconds between them actually coming out and landing on my chest, but felt like forever. And I ended up as naked as the baby because I ripped off all my clothes so that nothing would get between us! Oh it's utter magic, that first meeting. And with no wrapping on the baby you can count fingers and toes so easily.

Well girls you spend the next few years being covered in gunk of various kinds, courtesy of newborns through to active toddler. You may as well get used to it from hour 1 of day 1 of your new life

In fact newborn gunk is probably mild compared to the mountains of poo, vomit, nose slime and all the other 'babyplasm' as dh has named it.

There was a time when I reacted with horror to slobber etc on my clothes, but now I just shrug.

Before ds was born I said I didn't want him on me, skin to skin, full of 'lard', however, as soon as he came out he was put on my tummy and it was lovely. He just lay there not making a sound (infact never cried for 24 hours) and kept looking at his hands and turning them over and looking at the other side. It was amazing!

My dd was delivered by forceps in theatre and was handed to me after she'd been checked and wrapped up in a blanket, which I thought was lovely. It hadn't occured to me at the time to ask for her to be given straight to me, although I don't think they could have since she had to be checked over anyway. We are trying for baby#2 now and I'd like the same thing to happen again, already wrapped up, not the forceps if possible. I'm quite a squemish person and I don't really like the idea of being given a small baby covered in gunk, sorry but that's just me. I had no problem with bonding or feeding, dd had her first feed about half an hour after the birth once I was all fixed up and back in the delivery/recovery room.
Maybe if the delivery had been different I wouldn't have minded being handed my dd straight away but circumstances dictated what happened and I was quite happy. I guess it depends on the situation in all the rush of emotion I doubt you'd notice if there was a little gunk, you'd just be so happy to finally have your baby.

Ghosty - my thoughts as well!!!! DD was given a bath (emptying of bowls seconds after she got out) whilst they stitched me up, no one handed her to me for ages!

I didn't have skin to skin with DS ... due to c/s and him being given to DH totally wrapped in a blanket so I could only see the top of his head and then I was wheeled into recovery and DS and DH were ushered somewhere else so I didn't see DS in his birthday suit until he was about 5 hours old .... and how I regret it ... I think it had a big impact on our bonding process (or lack of it).
Next time, I tell myself, it WILL be different even if I have a c/s .......

Firstbump - I can only reiterate what everyone else is saying here. I had a water birth for DS1, the midwife didn't touch him at all during the delivery and I picked him up myself out of the water for our first cuddle.

The gunk isn't really slimey, it looks like butter but isn't slippery. Also, babies smell FANTASTIC when first born.

It's lovely, lovely, lovely. If you're not offered the opportunity, insist on it!

Its the most fantastic feeling in the world - and I really didn't notice any gunk. Its a moment of pure joy.

Felt a bit like this with dd1 and she was wrapped up and given to me,in hospital. But had skin to skin with dd2, at home, and it was wonderful. Definitely recommend it, you'll never forget it.

I didn't notice any slime as I felt so happy and relieved!!! I don't think I looked my best either anyway....

Agree with everyone else - you really don't notice the gunk (and they are generally not AS gunky as you think they'll be) and after childbirth it is no big deal anyway!!

It is such a wonderful feeling.

Am not going to read this as remember and want another chance to do this - gunk is yours and your babies and that will be that last thing on your mind!!!

I dont like gunk in abstract but at the time you dont notice

Firstbump, the experience of holding my 2 babies in my arms as soon as they were born are the two most precious experiences of my life - trust me, you will forget any squeamishness when the time comes!

ds came out spotlessly clean! I remember being surprised, and dh was really disappointed - he liked the idea of a gunky baby! But he looked like he was straight out the bath!