Becoming a mother can be an emotional experience for a lot of women. Every woman wants to make sure that she does it right and wants to do her best for her child. This young mom also wants the best for her newborn son but she also has some beliefs that she sticks by and is not willing to give up at any cost. The mom-of-four says once newborns exit the womb, they should not be cleaned and the white gel-like goo on their bodies should remain. The creamy substance covers a newborn during the last trimester of a woman’s pregnancy. She says while baths are not happening any time soon, she will still make sure that she cleans her baby properly when she changes his diaper.
Her name is Shahnta Hoare and she shared a video on her social media account that divided opinions severely. The mother from Washington made a video saying she does not believe in cleaning off newborns. She is incredibly passionate about this issue and wants to share her experience with others, New York Post reports.
The mom-of-four says once newborns exit the womb, they should not be cleaned, the white gel-like goo on their bodies which is medically known as vernix should remain. The creamy substance covers a newborn during the last trimester of a woman’s pregnancy.
According to the health officials, when a baby is born, they are usually covered in a thick layer of vernix which hospital staff or nurses in the delivery room quickly clean off. The young mother said that with her first-born son, the nurses wiped down her son before she could say anything and the same thing happened in the second birth when she had her twin sons.
Unfortunately, Hoare was upset that she had not advocated for herself in the delivery room and with her third pregnancy vowed this would not happen. In her TikTok video, the mother said that her newborn son, Ozzy, did not get wiped of anything. “Like what you see in that video [of his birth] stayed on him until it just naturally came off.” she explained in the video.
She also shared a video on her social media account, right after the birth of her son, where the newborn child visibly is covered in a white cast from the vernix.
The young mother claims that the vernix is really good for a baby. She explained in the video:
“Vernix is actually really good to keep on their skin, it’s actually super super moisturising – it’s almost a little oily. He had it in his neck creases, his ears, fingers, toes – it’s the best. I know it is maybe gross to some but when it’s your own baby, you’re like, this stuff is so good. So yeah, he didn’t get wiped and he won’t get his first bath for many more weeks.”
The mother from Washington is aware that some people will be very against her and her idea. She says while baths are not happening any time soon, she will still make sure that she cleans her baby properly when she changes his diaper.
Hoare also shared another, follow up video, and explained that newborn babies really aren’t dirty, they don’t get dirty. The mom said that it’s really not recommended to use soap on those areas. You can just take a damp rag and clean your baby. Their skin is really fragile and delicate and it can get dried out really easy. That’s the main reason why she and her husband choose not to use soap, Hoare also said.
“Please remember, what you want to do with your baby is totally fine, I do not judge you. If you want to wipe off your baby and give them a bath before you even touch them, that is your choice. If you don’t want to bathe your baby for the first two months, that’s also your choice.” the young mom said in her follow-up video.
The 24-year-old mother told the New York Post: “My husband and I decided to not bathe our son because of the health benefits. It helps newborns regulate their body temperature with skin to skin, it gives a protective barrier and is an antimicrobial as well.”