So that much-anticipated, tiny little being is finally born. It’s even scary to hold such a delicate newborn! But they need to be fed and bathed, right? What is the first bath at the maternity ward like? And how should you prepare to give the first bath at home? Can a newborn baby have their bath in a bucket? At first, many questions may come up! Even for those with more experience with young children. It seems that things change quickly and even the techniques evolve over time.
Although many new techniques have emerged, the older methods still persist in some places. After all, every maternity hospital has its own professionals who prefer certain techniques. But can the first bath be given from head to toe? Does the baby’s head need to be washed separately, or can I bathe my baby the way my mother was used to bathing her children? Let’s find out!
As soon as the baby is born, he or she is cleaned by a nurse right there in the delivery room, regardless of whether it was a vaginal or cesarean birth. A baby who has just come out of their mother’s belly is moist and covered in a layer of fat that protects them from the water, which is directly in contact with their skin.
The vernix should not be removed from the baby’s skin at this first moment. In fact, it is very resistant! Rubbing to force its removal can seriously hurt the baby. The recommended approach is to let this fatty layer come off gradually over several days during bath time1. When we see childbirth videos online and come across this scene, what’s actually happening is that the baby is being dried so they don’t get cold.
The first bath in the maternity hospital might not be how mom imagined it. Some hospitals choose not to bathe the baby using a bathtub, bowl, or shower. Others opt for a “bath” with damp cloths. A common procedure in the first bath is cleaning off the remains of birth residue from the baby’s head. Using water, soap, or baby oil, and with a fine but firm comb, the nurse in charge gently removes the residue from the strands of hair and scalp. This residue is part of the placenta or blood that was inside the amniotic sac2.
The first bath is given after the baby has had time to adjust to being outside their mother’s belly, usually about 3 hours after birth, and after spending time in the special postnatal incubator. This procedure prevents temperature shock and helps the baby adapt to the new environment3. Of course, the hospital bath is not the same as a bath at home. Besides being much more experienced, at the hospital everything is at hand and adapted for this moment. As for the affection, it may not feel the same. But depending on the professional in charge of the task, it will be done with a lot of love. So, it’s worth having dad or whoever is with you at the maternity ward film the moment.
The First Bath at Home
The first bath at home can be a challenge! Maybe not so much if you’re already an experienced mom, but still challenging. You know the baby’s cry at bath time? It can be pretty scary for whoever is on the mission of giving the first bath. Like for many women, the first bath here at home was given by grandma! Nothing better than experienced hands! But what about those who don’t have this opportunity? How to give the first bath? Follow these instructions:
- Set out clothes, a diaper and everything you’ll need (clothes, towels, soap, diaper cream, cotton, cotton swabs, 70% alcohol, comb and brush).
- Prepare the bathwater at a temperature between 36.8°C and 37.5°C. This is the ideal temperature for the baby’s bath. Always remember to put the cold water in first before adding hot if you’re mixing the water without using the shower.
- Before anything else, make sure to close doors and windows. Then undress the baby and check if there is anything in the diaper besides pee! If there is, clean with baby wipes or wet cotton. Clean well before bathing the baby.
- Some people teach to wash the baby’s head first and after drying it, bathe the rest of the body. This is a choice for the mother to make. If you prefer a full body bath all at once, remember to start with the baby’s face.
- Wash the eyes first, with cotton from the outside in. Use a separate piece of cotton for each eye. Next, wash the baby’s face with just water.
- The head can be washed at any point during the bath, but always with appropriate soap, in other words, “head to toe” wash or with baby shampoo. A crucial tip is to have an adapter for the bottles you’ll use during baths. Remember that you’ll have to hold the baby with one hand and squeezing is easier than tipping the bottle. This juggling can be easier with one of those liquid soap dispensers for the sink.
- To hold the baby securely, place your arm around the baby’s back and hold under the opposite armpit. Keep in mind that the baby may cry a lot out of fear of falling. They feel insecure without their clothes. One proof of this is that your baby will probably try to grasp your hand, clothing, or any piece of fabric or object within reach.
- Wash the baby’s neck, armpits, genitals, and umbilical area without fear. They won’t feel any pain and may even enjoy the sensation. Don’t forget to turn the baby onto their back. Your baby will likely stop crying because this position brings a sense of security.
- After the bath, wrap the baby in a soft towel or, preferably, a gauze towel. Gently dry every little fold. Dress the baby, starting with the diaper, and don’t forget to clean the umbilical cord area with 70% alcohol. Finish dressing your baby and clean their ears and nostrils with a cotton swab. Then comb their hair.
There! Your baby will be smelling fresh and ready for another feeding and nap. Remember that unexpected things can happen! Baby may poop in the bathwater, pee on mom, get clothes wet just minutes after being changed… Stay calm to handle these little surprises and know that, in the near future, you’ll laugh about all of this. Also, avoid bathing the baby right after a feeding. This may cause reflux, so it’s best avoided. Make the first bath a pleasant moment and enjoy every second, because it goes by so fast!
See also: How to care for the baby’s umbilical cord?
Photo: Selbe <3
