A newborn’s skin is usually covered in residual vernix caseosa which is a cheesy coating that keeps a baby’s skin protected in the amniotic bath  of the uterus.  Premature babies  have a lot of the residual vernix cases, on time babies have a little and overdue babies have a bit in their skin folds and under their nails

Health care professionals  use to scrub the vernix caseosa right off the baby after birth. However this is not the case anymore in most hospitals. It is now a standard protocol at many hospitals  to wait 8 to 24 hours before giving the baby her first bath. It may even be as long as 48 hours for babies born through c-section.

Reasons why doctor’s recommend delaying baby’s first bath

• reduces the risk of infection : The white substance known as vernix which covers your baby  is made up of skin cells that your baby made earlier in development. It contains proteins that prevent common bacterial infections.
• Improved temperature control : Bathing a newborn so soon can result in hypothermia. Inside the mother’s womb, the temperature is around 98.6F . However the child is born in a room that is  about 70 F . The baby uses a lot of energy to keep warm in the first few hours. If the newborn gets too hot or cold, drop in blood sugar and other complications can result.
• stabilize blood sugar : When the baby in born, she takeS  the first few hours adjusting to life outside the womb. This includes losing the placenta which was a source of blood sugar. Bathing newborns  cause them to cry which releases stress hormones. These  hormones causes a drop in the baby’s blood sugar .
• Better breastfeeding :  Research indicates that breastfeeding success is based on uninterrupted skin to skin  contact between mom and babies. Breastfeeding can be stressful but newborns who breastfeed in the first  hour of life  for about 30 minutes have a much easier time learning how to latch.
• better bonding between mother and baby : As long as the newborn doesnt have any complications, the first few hours of her life are suppose to be spent  with her mother. Skin to skin bonding on mother’s chest is known to regulate blood sugar, help in temperature regulation and makes breastfeeding easier for the newborn.

You also have to know that delaying bathing  may give parents the oppptuinity to enjoy the baby’s first bath  if the mother has recovered enough.