Final answer:
The statement is generally false, as immediate bathing of a newborn is not the standard postnatal care practice. Newborns are usually cleaned and given skin-to-skin contact with the mother, with a full bath often delayed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a baby is bathed immediately after birth before being given to the mother is generally false. Typical postnatal care does not require immediate bathing; the focus is on skin-to-skin contact with the mother and essential assessments such as the Apgar test.
Additionally, the natural coating on a newborn, called vernix caseosa, has protective qualities and health professionals often recommend delaying the first bath.
Right after birth, a newborn's skin is wet and may be coated with patches of waxy white vernix, which is beneficial. The umbilical cord is cut, leaving a stub, and essential newborn care practices occur, including aspiration of the mucus and skin-to-skin contact. A baby may be wiped down or cleaned up, but a full bath is not immediate practice.