Newborn’s first bath: any preferred timing? A pilot study from Lebanon

Abstract

Abstract Objective To try to find the most appropriate time for the newborn’s first bath. This prospective randomized study was conducted in one hospital (July–September 2017). Results A higher percentage of newborns who had a skin-to-skin contact with their mothers had their bath at 24 h vs 2 h after birth (65.2% vs 33.3%; p = 0.01). A higher percentage of mothers who helped in their baby’s bath had their baby’s bath at 24 h vs 2 h (65.2% vs 5.9%; p < 0.001) and vs 6 h (65.2% vs 15.7%; p < 0.001) respectively. A higher mean incubation time was seen between newborns who had their bath at 2 h (2.10 vs 1.78; p = 0.002) and 6 h (2.18 vs 1.78; p = 0.003) compared to those who had their bath at 24 h respectively. A higher percentage of newborns who took their first bath 24 h after birth were calm compared to crying vigorously (38.6% vs 9.1%; p = 0.04). Delaying newborn first bath until 24 h of life was associated with benefits (reducing hypothermia and vigorous crying, benefit from the vernix caseosa on the skin and adequate time of skin-to-skin contact and mother participation in her child’s bathing.