Baby cleaned after birth before being given to you or not?

[Bluebella]

Hi,

I'm just trying to write up some sort of birth plan.

I'm a bit stuck on whether baby should be cleaned before being given to me.

Do you think it is better to have that contact straight away, or would you get the m/w's to clean him off first?

What have been people's experiences in this? Or what do other first time mum's think.

Thanks!

blue x

With DS1 he was all bloody and naked wrapped in a towel, as I requested an instant cuddle; but the midwife whipped DS2 away without asking and before I knew it he was washed and dressed and wrapped up so tightly in a towel I couldn't see an inch of flesh

I felt quite possesive when DD was born, grabbed her immediately and think I would have elbowed anyone who tried to take her off me. Can't imagine having to wait for her to be washed.

Brought straight up to me and then a towel wrapped around both of us. DD2 I shouted "just give her to me" and I wrapped a towel over us and told the MWs to leave us be that I wanted to cuddle and feed her and they could wait for the placenta! Think DP dressed her after a bit and gave her a wipedown but she didn't get a proper bath for days.

Both times passed straight to me! Oh its so lovely! Not that mucky at all and in fact ds2 was very clean. Good lad!

Would never have dreamt of having them cleaned, but lots of people do! See how you feel when hes about to be born{smile]

My dd was whipped away and dressed before being stuck under a heater - and then she was handed to my Mum to hold before I got a finger on her!

Mind when she was handed to me I asked for her to go back in the crib since my arms were so shaky, I was scared that I'd drop her.

Glad you decided against cleaning...my ds wasnt cleaned, he was put on his tummy straight onto my chest, he amazingly pushed himself up and looked right in my eyes, then dropped his head to my breast and had his first feed..it the most wonderful moment of my life...my nightie was ruined (hooked up to monitors so never got a cance to remove it)but I didnt notice until several hours later. Good luck with you birth.

My dd (born by section) was wrapped in a towel still covered in vernix and handed to dh - i remember one of the nurses saying it was their usual rule not to clean more than the blood off the baby as the vernix is very good for their skin and should be left to be absorbed naturally.

my ds was taken to be weighed straight away, not that i believed his weight lol. He wasnt cleaned but put in a towel as i was worried hed get cold early on a november morning.

I can't quite remember. Before the birth I said I wanted him straight away, and I remember seeing him lying there between my legs, and then having him face-to-tit wrapped in a blanket but otherwise it's all a bit of a blur. If they did wash him, they didn't do a great job because he was still a bit gunky a couple of days later and I then insisted on bathing him and getting all the yuck out of his hair.