If you lot've ever seen a just-born baby, yous might've noticed that his skin is covered in cheesy white clumps or patches. What is this stuff — and when your little 1 comes into the world, should you lot leave it there or make clean information technology off right away?

That strange coating is something called the vernix caseosa, and it'due south actually good for your baby (and maybe even you, too). Here's a wait at what the vernix does, why information technology'south of import and why you might want to leave it on your newborn'south skin for a little while longer.

What is the vernix caseosa and what does it practice?

The vernix caseosa is a greasy, cheese-similar coating that covers babies' skin during their time in the womb. Information technology's made upwardly of shed skin cells and sebaceous secretions. That might sound a little yucky, merely the vernix really serves an important function: It protects your sweet pea'southward fragile skin from getting pickled by amniotic fluid in utero.

The vernix typically shows upwards around calendar week 19 of pregnancy and continues to thicken until calendar week 34. The blanket starts to slough off into the amniotic fluid itself a few weeks later, and your baby swallows information technology. (Isn't Mother Nature fascinating?) Past week 40, the vernix is mostly gone.

Babies born earlier tend to accept more vernix than those built-in after. If your little one arrives a few weeks before his due engagement, he might still be well coated. If he's built-in on time, he might only take a little bit of vernix left in the folds of his peel or under his nails. If he's born tardily, he might non have any vernix left at all (and his skin might be wrinkled or peeling as a result, but don't worry — it's temporary!).

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What are the benefits of the vernix caseosa?

The vernix caseosa helps form a barrier betwixt your baby's peel and the surrounding amniotic fluid. Its main role is to protect and hydrate, kind of like a heavy-duty moisturizer. Just information technology'due south thought to have other benefits too:

  • During pregnancy: The vernix your baby swallows may also assistance nourish his developing gut bacteria.

  • During labor: Vernix'south greasy, oily texture could serve as a natural lubricant to minimize friction as your baby makes his style downwardly the birth canal.

  • After commitment: Vernix tin go on to protect your baby'due south skin by helping it retain moisture and stave off bacterial infections. Information technology might help babies latch on as well. The scent of vernix might be involved in triggering neural connections in babies' brain needed for breastfeeding.

  • For moms: Vernix contains compounds idea to promote perineal wound healing, and so it may aid in recovery for vaginal births.

Should y'all delay baby'south first bath at the hospital?

Bathing immediately afterward nativity used to be seen as the best thing for babies. But more and more hospitals are changing that practice. Today it's becoming increasingly mutual to delay that first bath. That keeps the vernix on a baby'due south peel for a while longer. It also gives baby and Mom more fourth dimension for skin-to-pare contact in those first few hours after nascency.

Then should you hold off on the bath? The Globe Health Arrangement (WHO) recommends waiting at to the lowest degree 6 hours — and if yous can become a total 24 hours, even better. Any y'all choose, just notation it on your nativity program along with any other important decisions so the nurse doesn't accidentally bathe your baby sooner.

How long should you allow the vernix stay on your baby?

WHO recommends leaving the vernix on your baby for at least half-dozen hours, and preferably 24. As for an upper limit? There'southward no official recommendation. According to the International Childbirth Instruction Clan, there's no set time by when you lot have to bathe your baby. So do what makes you feel comfortable. And if you're not sure or feel like you demand some guidance, enquire your baby's pediatrician.

Are in that location any risks associated with leaving the vernix on your baby after birth?

At that place's usually no downside to leaving the vernix on your babe after he's born. But there are some exceptions. Babies born with chorioamnionitis or meconium staining demand to be bathed right later on commitment to reduce the risk of bacterial infection. Babies born to moms who are HIV positive or who have hepatitis should also be bathed ASAP to limit the chances for disease manual.

The vernix caseosa might expect a bit off-putting. Just it protects your babe while he'southward in the womb — and can provide some valuable benefits to both of yous during and afterward commitment. And so consider leaving it on your newborn'southward peel for a trivial while afterward birth, if possible. You can always clean him up for a cuter newborn photograph session on day two!