When we get pregnant, we know that many changes are going to happen, but we are not always aware of all of them, both with our bodies and with the baby’s growth. Even though there is a wealth of information available everywhere, many moms still do not know about or have never heard of vernix.
Contrary to what many think, vernix is not birth dirt—not at all. Vernix is actually a great friend to the baby! Learn how it appears, when, and how it helps the fetus even while still inside the mother’s belly.
What Is Vernix?
At about 25 weeks of pregnancy, the baby’s body begins to be covered by a white, greasy layer produced by the sebaceous glands—it’s a fat that is “similar” to what comes from pimples, but different as it contains beneficial properties.
This natural fatty layer is called vernix caseosa: it is white and water-resistant. This greasy substance is quite intense between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy, because the body is always producing it over the baby’s skin. There are cases where vernix crusts can be seen even during ultrasound exams.
What Is Vernix For?
In the womb, the baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid and, at first, vernix serves to protect the baby’s sensitive skin from direct contact with the amniotic fluid. However, recent studies have found that vernix contains antibacterial proteins that protect the baby from infections both inside the uterus and after birth, since the vernix remains present for a few hours after birth. Besides that, vernix is rich in fats that help with the baby’s natural skin elasticity.
When a baby is born prematurely, that is, before 37 weeks of pregnancy, the vernix is even more intense. As the due date approaches, the layer gradually decreases until birth. This allows the baby to remain protected from diseases that can affect sensitive skin due to its low pH.
At birth, the skin pH of the newborn is still fairly neutral, which allows opportunistic microorganisms to cause health problems for the baby while still in the maternity ward. This natural protection provided by vernix is called the acid mantle.
Do I Need to Remove Vernix from the Newborn?
In many birth videos you find online, you will often see nurses rubbing the baby to remove vernix. This raises an interesting question: remove it or not? Is it harmful if the baby keeps the vernix layer after birth? What should be done?
Explanatory Video: (h3)
Ideally, the vernix layer should remain with the baby. Even if the baby is bathed at the hospital, it is best to leave the vernix on the baby for a little longer. There is no need to remove all of the vernix; some hospitals use mineral oil, bath oil, or even moisturizing creams. But none of these are necessary—the vernix will naturally disappear within hours or days.
After about 2 or 3 days, the baby’s skin will be completely clean of vernix, and if not, that’s not a problem—actually, a little bit is not harmful. The places where vernix collects most are in the baby’s folds. It is very common to see week-old babies with white marks left in the groin, armpits, and behind knee folds.
When Is It Necessary to Remove Vernix?
As with everything in life, there are exceptions to not removing the vernix. It is necessary to immediately remove vernix from the baby if the mother has any highly contagious diseases such as HIV, or infections like positive streptococcus.
It is also advisable to remove excess vernix if, after 36 hours of life, the baby still has a lot attached to their body. That’s because an excess of vernix can cause overhydration, which can lead to an increased growth of fungi in those areas.
See also: First Bath in the Maternity Ward and at Home – What Care to Take
Photo: Tom Adriaenssen
