The first hour after the birth where you get uninterrupted skin to skin time with your baby is known as the golden first hour.
It is a super important element of birth and unless the mother or baby are in need of medical care, the first hour after birth should be entirely focused on the mother and baby regardless of the type of birth. Mum, baby and the room should be kept warm, quiet and calm. This helps to reduce the amount of adrenalin being produced post-birth and increases the production of oxytocin which is essential for breastfeeding and bonding.
The first hour…
The skin to skin time with your baby within their first hour isn’t just about bonding, it has other benefits too:
Temperature: Newborn babies can’t regulate their own temperature as we can as adults. Skin to skin immediately after birth helps baby to better regulate their temperature as your body helps to keep them at the perfect temperature. It also helps them to be calmer and happier by feeling the comfort of your skin, listening to the sound of your voice, your heartbeat and being close to the breast when they’re ready to try and latch.
Breastfeeding: When babies are held skin to skin post-birth and left with their mother undisturbed they will instinctively be given time to make their way to the breast to breastfeed. When breastfeeding and holding baby skin to skin our body will produce huge quantities of oxytocin which will encourage the release of the placenta. They may not feed in that first hour but they will know that it is available if they are being held close.
Delayed cord clamping: Leaving the umbilical cord intact whilst you have skin to skin enables your baby to receive all of the blood still in circulation in the placenta and umbilical cord when they’re born. This increases their blood volume, red blood cells and iron levels. It also gives your baby time to continue to receive oxygen via the placenta whilst their lungs are still adjusting to breathing in the outside world. To read more about delayed cord clamping, check out my blog post here: Delayed cord clamping.. what it is and why you need to make sure that you get it. – Just Exhale
Placenta: The placenta can take up to an hour to come out, enjoying time skin to skin with your baby and breastfeeding will help your body to produce more oxytocin which will encourage the placenta to separate from the wall of the uterus and the placenta will then make its way downwards.
Bonding: Skin to skin, holding, kissing and talking to your baby encourages the production of oxytocin which supports bonding and attachment. Newborn babies are instinctively born with the need to be with their mothers and are likely to be happier and cry less if held skin to skin. They want to be where it feels familiar (hearing the sound of your voice and your touch) warm and safe.
Save this and make sure that you add a golden first hour to your birth plan! You can check out other birth plan tips over on my Facebook page: Just Exhale (facebook.com)
