Your Baby's First Coat: How Vernix Protects Newborns and Empowers Parents

You’ve seen it in birth photos, maybe even on your own baby...that creamy white coating on newborn skin. It’s called vernix caseosa, and in this episode of Tend and Befriend, we’re exploring what it is, why it matters, and what it represents in today’s birth spaces.

Deborah breaks down:

• The science of vernix: what it’s made of and why it forms
• Its powerful role in immune support, temperature regulation, and bonding
• Why more families are choosing to delay their baby’s first bath
• What the World Health Organization recommends
• How this seemingly small decision connects to a larger conversation around informed consent and autonomy in birth

This episode isn’t just about vernix. It’s about voice. About choice. About being heard in one of the most sacred transitions of your life.

Whether you choose to leave it on or wash it off, what matters most is that the decision is yours.

Instagram: @deborah.thedoula
Website: www.pelviclove.ca 

Join Doula Deborah On Demand for biweekly conversations on birth, postpartum, advocacy, and evidence-based care.

Chapters

• 0:13 Introduction to Tend and Befriend
• 0:50 Understanding Vernix Caseosa
• 2:01 Benefits and Functions of Vernix
• 3:12 Delaying Baby's First Bath
• 4:29 Birth Autonomy and Empowerment
• 6:09 Episode Conclusion

Transcript

Deborah: 0:13

Hey Mamas, you're listening to Tend and Befriend, a podcast about women's mental and physical health. This is Debra. I'm a mom of two, a labor and birth coach and birth advocate, a health professional, and today I'm your host. Let's dive into today's episode. Any information you hear or that is suggested or recommended on these episodes is not medical advice. Hello mamas, thank you for joining me on today's episode of Tend and Befriend.

Deborah: 0:50

I'm Debra, your doula, and today we're talking about that creamy white sometimes misunderstood coating on your newborn skin Vernix caseosa. You've probably seen it in birth photos or on your own baby and maybe wondered what is that white stuff? In this episode, I'm digging into the science and wisdom behind vernix, what it does, why it's here and why so many families are choosing to delay their baby's first bath because of it. But we're also talking about something deeper, of course choice, because, let's be honest, it's not ever just about vernix. It's about who holds the power in birthing spaces and for some, this decision to delay the bath is symbolic of a much bigger issue feeling heard, rushed or overridden during one of life's most sacred moments. We'll talk about why this matters, why it doesn't matter to everyone, and why the growing movement toward home birth and even free birth reflects a system that needs to listen more closely or risks being left behind.

Deborah: 2:01

Let's start with the question what is vernix? It is a creamy, white, waxy substance made up of water, lipids and proteins. It forms around the week 20 of gestation and continues to increase until full term. This beautiful substance can be more common on babies born before 41 plus weeks, and post-dates babies may have less. Now let's talk about what the Vernix does. It provides a barrier function which protects the newborn's skin from amniotic fluid and post-birth moisture loss. It's immune support antimicrobial properties. It acts like a built-in first line of d, it regulates temperature, it helps retain warmth in the hours after birth and it's olfactory bonding. It holds the scent of amniotic fluid, aiding mother baby bonding and breastfeeding initiation. Wow, and we've been rubbing that off of our babies immediately after they've been born for so long.

Deborah: 3:12

Now, why are families delaying the first bath? Because of vernix? Because we want to preserve the vernix as long as possible, rubbing it in like lotion instead of washing it off. It has its purpose and we want to leave it. If we want to leave it, it helps support newborn microbiome development and it reduces cold stress and avoids unnecessary separation from the birthing parent, and also because it's your choice.

Deborah: 3:42

Now here's how you can delay the bath. For your scientific reference, the World Health Organization recommends delaying the first bath for at least 24 hours. Many families choose 48 plus hours. How do you do this? You communicate your wishes clearly in your birth plan. You use phrases like no newborn bath until after first breastfeeding and golden. Use phrases like no newborn bath until after first breastfeeding and golden hour, or simply no newborn bath. No is a full sentence. No, thank you. What to do instead? Gently rub the vernix in if the baby isn't cold. Use soft, dry cloth to pat dry after birth, but avoid wiping it away.

Deborah: 4:25

Now let's discuss why this might matter to some and not to others. For some, this is part of a holistic, informed approach to newborn care, and others may not feel connected to the idea, and that's okay. The point here is informed choice, not rigid rules. Some families feel safe deferring to the hospital's protocols, while others feel disempowered by them, and I want to talk about the bigger picture and autonomy in the birth space. This is one of the many small decisions that symbolize agency in your birth.

Deborah: 4:57

Hospitals sometimes rush baths, checks and procedures without full consent, and more families are saying no or simply choosing different settings altogether. And whether we agree with anything that any birthing person wants or not, we must ask why. Why are women opting out of the medical systems entirely? We can't look at all of this and not ask why. So one of the things I am seeing is because birth is no longer something that women are feeling that they're doing and it's something that's being done to them, and that is why stuff like avoiding all hospital policies is becoming something that is asked for on a day to day basis.

Deborah: 5:46

So I want to finish off by saying that this episode isn't just about vernix. It's about voice. It's about remembering that every parent should feel respected in the early hours of their baby's life. Whether you choose to delay the bath or not, delay the cord clamping or not, what matters most is that it was your choice, because when parents are informed and empowered, birth becomes an experience of strength and not submission. I want to thank you so much for joining me for today's episode on Vernix. If you're curious about doula services or want to learn more about empowering yourself for birth, please join us bi-weekly for something called Doula Debra on Demand, or follow us on Instagram for all things birth. Thank you and let's talk soon. Talk to you soon. Okay, let's talk soon.