Was your baby cleaned after giving birth?

[MumtoBen]

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?

DD1 I can't remember. DD2 no. She was a homebirth and the room wasn't hospital hot. She was a bit cold so she got dried off with a hairdryer and bundled into warm dry clothes.

This is a 6 year old thread

Wiped a bit but not washed, and I didn't want them washed either.
While I wanted to hold them ASAP I was too busy throwing up to do so for ages both times.

I did find it amusing to think that they smelt of my insides - not dirty but a very animal almost meaty smell.

Handed to me at birth with a towel so got a quick wipe whilst being cuddled. After than wasn't given a bath until day 10. Topped and tailed in the meantime but that's all.

Oh arses

I'm usually the one pointing out that a thread's ancient.

I hope some of those children have been bathed by now then.

It was my choice and birth plan that DD was handed to me straight after birth

she had a quick wipe with a towel but I chose not to bath her until she was a week old

(Born at home)

Lol

Im in Ireland and had my baby in the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin and no he wasnt washed which I thought was very strange his hair was matted to his head and he didnt have a bath until I brought him home to my mams house and she filled up a basin and washed him for me...I thought the hospital was very unhelpful and should have show or helped me give him a bath before we were sent home

DD1 was bathed and dressed before she was handed to me (customary in the 70s) - I wanted so much to hold her, I almost tore her out of the midwife's hands!!

DS and DD2 were put straight in my arms after birth and were extremely clean and smelled lovely.

Both mine (CS) were just wiped with towel and handed to me still with the vernix (sp?) on. Topped and tailed them until the cord fell off and then they had their first bath (around 10 days old).

No, first bathed about 4 days old I think.

edelic - i had dd1 at holles st three years ago and they showed me how to bathe her. staff shortages, maybe. farkin' recession.

dd2 we bathed when she was about ten days old, i think. they'd given her a quick wipe when they were looking her over after birth, though, i think.