03/09/2026
Vernix caseosa is the creamy white coating many babies are born with. It forms during pregnancy and helps protect baby’s skin in the womb.
It also helps moisturize the skin, supports healthy bacteria, and has natural antimicrobial properties as baby transitions to life outside the uterus.
There is no need to rush to wipe it away. And we aren’t vigorously rubbing babies with blankets after birth. Many families choose to leave vernix on the skin and gently rub it in during the first hours after birth.
Sometimes it even ends up on our stethoscopes after listening to baby’s heart and lungs. A small, sweet reminder of the normal physiology of birth.
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