· Vernix Caseosa · 2 min read
Vernix Caseosa
The protective layer that covers the baby's body.
Vernix caseosa is a protective layer that covers the baby’s body. Also known as birthing custard. It is thick, white, and looks like cheese. The vernix is composed of 81% water, 10% proteins, and 9% lipids.
Vernix is formed from the 20th week of pregnancy. In the last weeks of pregnancy, the white layer is gradually absorbed by the skin. The quantity of vernix depends on the time of birth. If your baby is born after the due date, he or she will usually have less vernix on their skin than a baby born earlier. Babies born via C-section usually have more vernix on their skin than babies born through the birth canal.
It is produced when the fetus is inside the uterus during pregnancy. In the past, maternity care personnel used to wash babies shortly after birth and clean them of the vernix. However, after scientific studies, benefits were found by leaving this layer on the newborn baby. The World Health Organization recommends keeping the vernix on the baby’s skin for at least 24 hours.
The benefits that vernix caseosa provides to the baby are:
- It makes it easier for the baby to exit the vagina.
- It acts as a moisturizer on the baby’s skin.
- It helps in regulating body temperature.
- It protects the baby against microbial agents in the womb and amniotic fluid, as well as in extra-uterine life.
If you wish for your baby’s vernix to remain on your baby for at least 24 hours, it would be a good idea to inform the hospital or your midwife about your wish because the first bath policy is not the same everywhere.