Bianca Kellaway

There are many reasons why it's recommended to delay your baby's first bath.

Here are my top 5...

1. Better Breastfeeding success
There are a number of reasons why this may be the case. More skin to skin is one theory. The more time your baby is lying against your skin the better in terms of breastfeeding. It helps bring the milk in and regulate your supply.

2. Happier Baby
Delaying your baby's first bath may result in certain smells being preserved. For example, your baby may find comfort in the smell of their own skin as it reminds them of how things were in the womb. This could include the amniotic fluid and vernix for example.

3. Better Temperature Stabilisation
Another study showed that babies who experienced a delayed first bath were able to regulate their temperature after that first bath a lot quicker and easier than babies who had the bath on their first day of life.

4. Reduced Risk Of Infection
Your baby is usually born with a layer of Vernix on their skin. This thick creamy substance is considered to be a natural antibacterial layer of sorts. It helps to protect your baby from an array of germs and infections and shouldn’t be wiped away immediately for this reason.

5. It Might Be More Special At Home
Your babies first bath could be a lot more special if it happens in the comfort of your own home rather than in a hospital environment. It may allow other family members and siblings to get involved too.

There are many reasons why it's recommended to delay your baby's first bath. Here are my top 5... 1. Better Breastfeeding success There are a number of reasons why this may be the case. More skin to skin is one theory. The more time your baby is lying against your skin the better in terms of breastfeeding. It helps bring the milk in and regulate your supply. 2. Happier Baby Delaying your baby's first bath may result in certain smells being preserved. For example, your baby may find comfort in the smell of their own skin as it reminds them of how things were in the womb. This could include the amniotic fluid and vernix for example. 3. Better Temperature Stabilisation Another study showed that babies who experienced a delayed first bath were able to regulate their temperature after that first bath a lot quicker and easier than babies who had the bath on their first day of life. 4. Reduced Risk Of Infection Your baby is usually born with a layer of Vernix on their skin. This thick creamy substance is considered to be a natural antibacterial layer of sorts. It helps to protect your baby from an array of germs and infections and shouldn’t be wiped away immediately for this reason. 5. It Might Be More Special At Home Your babies first bath could be a lot more special if it happens in the comfort of your own home rather than in a hospital environment. It may allow other family members and siblings to get involved too. #biancakellaway #birthcoach #babysfirstbath

Bianca Kellaway | Birth Coach on Instagram: "How often should you bath your newborn baby? I started bathing once or twice a week until the umbilical cord fell off. Once that happened I started bathing every night as it established a good night... Bianca Kellaway | Birth Coach shared a post on Instagram: "How often should you bath your newborn baby? I started bathing once or twice a week until the umbilical cord fell off. Once that happened I started bathing every night as it established a good night time routine and my boys associated bath t...

Bathing my boys was certainly one of my favourite things to do with them as they both loved bath time.

My essential bath time list included:

🛁 A baby bath

🛁 A wash cloth

🛁 Body wash / Shampoo

🛁 A few toys

🛁 A hooded towel

🛁 And don't forget...a cushy mat for your knees.

Five steps to creating a self-care plan during your pregnancy👇

1. Step 1 is realising you are essential and taking care of yourself is crucial.

2. Take time out to create a self-care plan.

3. Identify your self-care needs.

4. Write down practices that support your needs and fit them into your schedule.

5. Try to remove any barriers.

Need help putting a self-care plan together? Go to the link in my bio to get in touch.

I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my baby, but little did I know how challenging the process would be. I had to have caesarian sections with both my boys due to medical conditions.

Day 2 in the hospital was extremely difficult. I managed little sleep that first night due to the anaesthetic. I was recovering from surgery, and my breasts were beginning to get engorged.

On day 3, my breasts were completely engorged. I had golf balls under my armpits, and my poor baby was hungry. Thankfully the nurses managed to help me express myself manually, which kept Alex going, but I was not able to fully breastfeed.

I distinctly remember the spell of warm, sluggy cabbage leaves which the nurses placed on my breasts in an attempt to alleviate some of the discomforts. Luckily it did seem to help a little. I was engorged for about the first six days after giving birth. Once my breasts adjusted, I managed to breastfeed really well.

The same happened with my second baby, and on day 3, I picked up a tummy bug which had me sitting on the loo and vomiting all while holding my little baby, trying to breastfeed. It was horrific and not to mention very glamorous…not!