2025
Vernix: what is it for?
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At birth, your baby is covered with a wonderful creamy, oily and whitish substance that protects sensitive skin. This cream is called vernix caseosa. Many are tempted to quickly want to remove it, believing that the baby is dirty. Don't touch it... here's why.
Secreted by the sebaceous glands during pregnancy, vernix makes it possible to create a protective barrier for the baby's skin against the humidity of the amniotic fluid. It is composed of water, lipids, proteins and vitamins and will be reabsorbed by your baby's skin from the 8thE months of pregnancy and after birth. That's why some babies are born a bit creamier than others... depending on when they're born!
Nail polish has many benefits following the birth of your baby. It is a natural moisturizing, antibacterial and antifungal substance that protects the skin against the dryness and irritants of its new environment. It also helps to regulate the pH of your baby's skin. Among other things, this is what allows your baby to have such soft skin.
Vernix also contains pheromones, chemical messengers that elicit an attraction response. When you say, “It smells like a brand new baby” or even when you see a new mother smelling her baby all the time with stars in her eyes... it's because of pheromones! It's visceral, instinctive, hormonal. She can't help it... and it helps her develop a strong bond of attachment to her newborn. It's the same for the second parent.
Finally, vernix also allows, through its waterproof side, to help the baby regulate and maintain its body temperature. You will find more in small folds such as the armpits, the back of the knees or even the hatreds.
So when it's time to give your baby a bath, remember the many benefits of vernix and don't rub to remove it. It is also recommended to wait a few days before giving the first bath, in order to allow time for the vernix to be reabsorbed and for your baby's body temperature to stabilize. Remember that there is no press, your baby is not dirty.
Source: Dr. Virginia Kelly, MD FRCPC, Espace D Clinic Photo credit: @vanessamendezphotography
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