It’s called the “golden hour” and it’s the immediate hour after birth. Depending on where you give birth – and if you or your baby has any complications – spending the first hour bonding with your new little love is something that you should definitely talk about with your midwife, doula or doctor.
Why?
There are many great reasons!
Here are three things you need to know about the “golden hour” after birth. Read on:
What is it?
Typically, the golden hour is that special first hour that begins immediately after baby is born. If both mom and baby are healthy, ideally, baby should be placed on mom’s chest immediately and left undisturbed. The placenta will likely be delivered during this time as well and it can also be done for both C-sections and vaginal deliveries.
What do you do?
During the golden hour, the focus should be on skin-to-skin time between mom and baby, which can help with nursing and also proper temperature regulation and hormone production.
If possible, the cord clamping/cutting should be delayed as well.
What are the benefits?
There are so many benefits to having a golden hour with your baby!
The skin-to-skin contact improves bonding and breastfeeding and it also helps balance temperature and hormones like oxytocin and prolactin.
It also helps with attachment, as babies are born ready to meet mama and interact with her!
Make sure you talk to your care providers and birth partner about protecting this “golden hour” with your baby!
Talk about your need for a quiet, dimly lit space where you can simply be at one with your new son or daughter and interact in a calm and peaceful way.
Everything Birth
We hope you have a wonderful birth and a loving and memorable golden hour!