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When your baby is born, they’ll be covered in amniotic fluid, perhaps some blood, and potentially some vernix. Now, however, this practice is changing, as more is known about the benefits of vernix and the benefits of postponing the first bath. In the past, most hospitals and birthing centers would bathe babies within an hour or two of birth.

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Vernix contains antioxidants like vitamin E and melanin, which help slow down cell damage due to free radicals.

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Vernix could protect your newborn baby from getting a skin infection shortly after birth. Its high water content helps lock moisture into the skin and reduces moisture loss. Vernix could help prevent your newborn’s skin from becoming dry. Vernix also has a few benefits for your baby after they’re born: The Benefits of Vernix Caseosa After Birth Protect the fetus from damaging substances, like urea and electrolytes, in the amniotic fluid.ĭuring a vaginal delivery, vernix acts as a lubricant, protective biofilm, and antimicrobial cover against any bacteria in the genital tract. The Benefits of Vernix Caseosa in the Wombīefore your baby is born, the function of vernix caseosa in utero is to: It helps shield their delicate skin from abrasions, chapping, and hardening that could be caused by prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid, and it also has some benefits for your baby after birth. You can think of vernix caseosa as a protective layer for your baby’s skin.

It contains enzymes and other innate immune proteins that have antibacterial properties. Vernix caseosa is simply a creamy, greasy substance mostly composed of water, lipids, and proteins. The sebaceous glands-which are responsible for producing oil in the skin-begin to produce the vernix coating at around 17 weeks of pregnancy.

The meaning of the name vernix caseosa is “varnish of a cheesy nature.”ĭuring your pregnancy, vernix plays an essential role, acting as a waterproof barrier to protect your baby’s skin against the amniotic fluid that surrounds your little one until they are born.Ī naturally occurring biofilm, vernix begins to cover your baby’s skin during the second trimester. Some babies are born with bits of this protective coating still on the skin. Vernix caseosa, or vernix for short, is a white, cheesy-looking substance that coats the skin of your baby while in the uterus. Read on to learn more about what vernix is, its function, why some babies are born with the coating still on, and when you should first bathe your baby if your little one was born with lots of vernix. Babies are often born covered in a creamy-looking substance called vernix caseosa, a protective film that benefits sensitive newborn skin.

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