It is normal after birth for you to notice a white cheese-like substance covering parts of your precious baby. This is commonly known as Vernix Caseosa and is absolutely nothing to worry about. Let’s find out more about the white stuff under my baby’s armpit.
What is the White Stuff Under Newborn’s Armpit?
The white stuff you see under your newborn’s armpit is called Vernix Caseosa. It is a normal thing, and you should not panic about it; in fact, it is good for your baby’s skin. So before you scrub it all off read our Vernix Caseosa section.
What is Vernix Caseosa/ White under newborn armpit?
Your baby has grown and developed inside you for 40 weeks. Swimming in the amniotic sac full of fluid. This is when they develop this white coating. It is to protect their fresh skin from chapping and wrinkling inside the womb. Can you imagine being in water for that amount of time? So no wonder your baby needs some protection or they would come out more wrinkly and chapped than ever!
This white coating protects your baby’s skin and prevents infection from setting in whilst they are in the womb. The closer you get to your due date the less coating will be on your baby. Premature babies tend to have quite a bit whilst overdue babies can have next to nothing on them after delivery.
As we are handed out fresh little newborns and meet them for the first time you may only notice the Vernix Caseosa in their little creases and rolls. It is especially common for it to be around your baby’s neck and also it could be white under a newborn armpit.
It is believed that delaying that first bath could be beneficial to your darling. As much as you want them clean and all the white stuff in their newborn armpit gone delaying their first wash is an option many moms now take.
But why?
The Benefits of Delaying That First Bath
Now that you know what is the white stuff in newborn armpit, let’s talk about the benefit of delaying the first bath of your little angel.
We now know that our baby needs to be protected inside the womb but once delivered this substance can act as a magical blanket continuing to protect your baby.
‣ Antimicrobial Properties
Vernix Caseosa has Antimicrobial properties. After birth and for the first few weeks your baby is so vulnerable to germs in our environment. Whilst breastfeeding can give them the extra antibodies they haven’t developed yet this coating also has antioxidants, anti-infection and anti-inflammatory properties. This is surely a great reason to keep that coating on for as long as possible.
‣ Regulate Temperature
If we are cold we shiver, if we are hot we sweat. A newborn cannot do this straight away, your body has kept them at the optimum temperature for nine months so after delivery we tend to keep them bundled and swaddled. Keeping the Vernix Caseosa on their skin can help to regulate their temperature.
‣ Soft and supple
After birth, your baby is coming into contact with the environment and pollution in the air. Having this barrier on their skin can maintain and act like a natural moisturizer. This makes me think, is this where the term “soft as a baby’s bottom” comes from?
Newborn Baby’s First Bath
Delaying the first bath is totally the choice of the parents.
As a new mom, you may want your baby to be clean and fresh so you can inhale their natural scent. I know a few moms who hate the gunk and gore so they opt to wash their babies after a few hours. This is totally fine. Even if your baby has what’s left of the coating on for a few hours they will benefit from its magical properties.
The White Stuff in Older Babies
Now that I’ve discussed details on white stuff under newborn’s armpit, let me talk a bit on white stuff in older babies.
As our little ones grow you may still notice the same cheese-like substance is still under their armpits. I know I thought that they are definitely a little old to have the Vernix Caseosa still and has had many baths since their birth. But every day it plagues us, parents, what is it and why is it always there?
If you notice the same substance in your baby after a few months then it is more than likely a build up of skin cells, vomit, spit-up, milk, or anything else your bouncing baby likes to store.
As they grow their podgy rolls become more prominent. They are wanting more milk and maybe being sick a bit more. These things love to build up in the dark warmer places on our bodies, the armpits and neck tend to be the go-to place.
If you notice that there is an excessive amount of white discharge in any rolls or creases then it is important that you maintain a good hygiene routine. Regular bathing is great but you must ensure that your little one is patted dry in all the hard to reach spots.
I know what you are thinking… “My baby is as strong as Thor” encouraging a baby to stretch their arms to wash and dry can be a battle but gentle encouragement may be in the form of massage can help them give you an all-free pass to every nook and cranny they have.
It is normal for your baby to have a small build-up but if it becomes smelly and or sore then a trip to the Doctor is on the cards. A buildup of bacteria can cause a yeast infection.
If your baby has been diagnosed with a yeast infection then firstly don’t beat yourself up! It is nothing you have or haven’t done! You need to ensure the area is always clean and dry. The doctor can prescribe an anti-fungal cream or ointment.
Wrapping Up
So to answer that pondering question ‘What is the white stuff under a newborn’s armpit?’ We can quite clearly identify that if you are looking at a newborn then it is absolutely normal and can be quite healthy to leave for a while, whereas if your baby is a little older then it can be a mixture of all things milky!
If you are concerned at all about the white stuff under newborn’s armpit then contact your doctor, older babies can develop rashes and infection if their skin rolls are not clean and dry.
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