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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Was your baby cleaned after giving birth?

88 replies

MumtoBen · 22/04/2006 22:25

My baby was not cleaned after I gave birth. It was about 14 hours later (gave birth at midnight, got to wash him at about 2pm next day) before I was able to give him a bath. His hair and face especially were caked in blood. I thought he had black hair until I washed it and found it was in fact blonde. Is this normal?

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picassotriggerfish · 22/04/2006 22:28

ds not cleaned. & he was a week old before he had a bath - wiped him over tho.
couldn't have cared less at the time tbh!

Wembley · 22/04/2006 22:28

Yes I think so. Both of my children were born by CS and neither of them were cleaned straight away. DD was bathed 48 hours later and DS wasn't bathed until he came home. I think it's all about keeping them warm.

PinkTulips · 22/04/2006 22:31

over here they don't like them being washed for the first week as it damges the protective oils on the skin. just told to wipe eyes, umbilical and clean nappy for 1st week. that said my dd had so much gunk in her hair the nurse helped me wash it the next day as it was quite gross. didn't bother me personally, quite liked the smell before she was washed, she never smelled quite the same after!

Linnet · 22/04/2006 22:31

dd1 was delivered by forceps at midnight and wasn't bathed until the next day or it may even have been the day after that.

Dd2 was wiped down after birth at 5pm and was given a bath at around 10pm that night by the midwife.

cece · 22/04/2006 22:38

Both of mine bathed by mw before we left the delivery room. So probably when 2 hours old. Also bathed the next day by nurisng assistant before we went home

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 22/04/2006 22:38

dd1 had blood in her hair for a couple of days or so. to me it felt very right. not sure if it was iron deficiency but she smelt so much nicer than if she had been "clean". dd2 was born at home and we got in the bath together about half an hour after she had born. that was nice too, but I'll never foregt how wonderful dd1 smelled.

dobearsshitinthewoods · 22/04/2006 22:52

ds had to be cleaned as he was absolutely covered in meconium

SomethingAboutMary · 22/04/2006 22:55

Both of mine came out very clean even the midwife who delivered dd especially said she could not believe how clean she was.

Meggymoose · 22/04/2006 22:55

Both mine born by CS and neither bathed until next day - to do with keeping warm I believe.

misdee · 22/04/2006 22:56

all mine were wiped over. but not bathed straight away. dd1 was bathed after 24 hours, dd2 was bathed on day 2, dd3 i was going to not bath her, but she had a quick bath after throwing up after a tube feed on day 2 or 3. they wanted me to bath dd3 earlier as she has thick black hair and it was all gunky, but i refused and just brushed the gunk out once it had dried.

mosschops30 · 22/04/2006 22:56

both of mine just wiped with a towel and then bathed the next day by nursery nurse.

hunkermunker · 22/04/2006 23:02

DS1 born in water and bathed next day. Had his next bath at 6 days old, then fairly regularly. He had cradle cap quite badly and has a couple of dry patches on his legs now.

DS2 born on land, very clean when born (less vernix than DS1, tiny bit of blood in his hair), not bathed for three weeks, had only had two baths when 5 weeks old. Did wash his hair a few times separately though. Has them more often now he's 13wo, because he loves it! His skin's gorgeous - peachy and soft and it's only ever had water on it.

LeahE · 22/04/2006 23:40

DS was c/s and was wiped a bit before weighing but not actually washed -- he had quite a bit of blood in his hair. We washed bits of him but didin't bath him until he was about three weeks old.

expatinscotland · 22/04/2006 23:42

i didn't use anything but water on either girl till they were about 3 months or so.

Socci · 22/04/2006 23:46

I've heard that it isn't a good idea to use anything other than water on a newborn and soap can contribute to that spotty look that some of them get.

SomethingAboutMary · 22/04/2006 23:49

Also both of mine were not bather till about 1 week after & that was with just water as they had bits of dry patches round wrists & ankles.

emmawill · 23/04/2006 00:12

No neither of mine where bathed and I didn't bath them till they were about a week either.

SparklyGothKat · 23/04/2006 01:13

DS was bathed at 5 days old, DD2 was bathed at 5 weeks old!!!! (she was in SCBU for 5 weeks so was only wiped with cotton wool) DD2 was 3 weeks old (ditto on the SCBu thing)

SueW · 23/04/2006 03:22

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

eidsvold · 24/04/2006 00:34

nope.

dd1 wiped and whisked away to NICU and dd2 wiped and given to us.

Think dd1 was about a month or more old before she had a decent clean.

dd2 was about 10 days old or so when she had her first bath.

hannahsaunt · 24/04/2006 07:33

I asked for both of mine to be wiped before being given to me; not really a blood and guts person. Loved them being pink and beautiful and not slimy and yukky when handed to me.

CarolinaMooncup · 24/04/2006 08:36

ds was just wiped with a towel when he was born and didn't get a bath till he was 4wks old. The MWs kept hassling me to let them show me how to bath him when we were in hospital, but I just couldn't see the point tbh.

I'd heard it was better to wash them as little as possible and ds only had the odd bit off blood stuck to his eyebrows anyway.

hulababy · 24/04/2006 08:38

Not bathed, but wiped over. Had a cs and she was cleaner when she was brought back to me after the 5 minute checks, than when she was shown to us immediately after birth. Can't remeber when her first bath was - must have been in the hopital, but I think they did it the next morning with me watching - still not that able o move as wired up at time.

Clayhead · 24/04/2006 08:42

No, neither cleaned, both given to me straight away and placed on me. Both times, the midwives took my top off just before delivery and put a sheet over me and then placed the baby on my chest, under the sheet for lots of lovely skin to skin time.

Not bathed for ages, a week or two I think.

nailpolish · 24/04/2006 08:43

i remember dd2 was plopped onto me straight away (dd1 had been whisked away to be resuscitated, without me even knowing her gender ) and when relatives came in (they had been hovering outside) i couldnt understand why they didnt rush over and hug me (i was on an unbelievable high) then i looked down and myself and dd2 were still covered in blood and all the rest, plus the cord was still attached and in full view!

it was funny watching them rush in and then do an emergency stop at the sight

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