The Golden Hour- what it is and why you should protect it

BKK Kids

The first hour or so after you have given birth to your beautiful baby is known as the Golden Hour. It is a precious time when parents and baby get to bond, and baby can experience a peaceful and easier transition to life outside the womb.

If you’re thinking that this may not seem like such a big deal, let me explain.

 

Let's start at the beginning...

To understand this all a little better, it may be helpful to explain what is going on in baby’s little body at the precise moment of birth.

In the womb, baby gets his oxygen from his mother. Oxygenated blood is transported from the placenta via the umbilical cord to the baby where it is dispersed in his body from the liver through shunts. These shunts are like little passages that pushes the blood where it needs to go.

When baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and the baby is cut off from the mom’s supply of oxygen and nutrients. Now the baby’s body begins its rapid change or transition

The baby begins to breathe air. With the first breaths of life, the lungs start to expand. As the lungs expand, the fluid inside the lungs is cleared out. The baby’s blood pressure increases and the pressure in the lungs decrease causing the shunts to close. This pressure also causes the Foramen Ovale (a tunnel -like opening in the heart) to close. Now the baby is pumping oxygenated blood throughout its body.

He is breathing on his own. He doesn’t depend on his mother anymore.

All of this happens just a few moments after he takes his first breath. How incredible!

What does this have to do with the Golden Hour you ask?

Well, now that your baby is able to breathe on his own, he needs comfort and nourishment. Life outside the womb is very different and unsettling for a lot of babies. You can make this a smooth transition mama.

Ideally after birth, baby should be placed onto mama’s skin to facilitate skin- to -skin and for baby to nurse.

If you place baby onto your stomach, he will actually crawl to your breast and start nursing! This is because your baby can actually smell the scent of your breasts.

There are studies that show if a mother is hands-on involved in the birth, that the scent  of amniotic fluid on her helps boost bonding and breastfeeding with her baby more successfully.

AleMoraes244/Getty Images Plus

The benefits of uninterrupted bonding

There are so many benefits to spending the first hour after birth uninterrupted with your baby. Parents should advocate for this as much as possible. Write it in your birth plan!

Many newborn medical procedures can be done while baby is still on mama’s chest. If mama and baby are healthy, you can also request in a kind way, for the procedures to be done later. Also ask that visitors wait until after the first hour before getting to hold your baby.

If you had a cesarean birth, you can still get that beautiful time of being with your baby. Ask nurses to place baby onto you immediately after he was born. Have dad hold him skin-to-skin if you can't. Whisper into your baby's ear. He will recognise your voice. Ask the staff to give you some privacy as soon as they are able.

Some benefits:

Reduction of stress – when the baby is placed onto mama’s skin, it actually slows down mama’s adrenaline from birth which inhibits the flow of oxytocin and prolactin. Stress levels in baby are also reduced.

Skin to skin – there are so many benefits of skin to skin but basically it helps baby to regulate their body temperature, and facilitates bonding and connection between mama and baby. Skin to skin is also important for dads!

Baby’s immune system – baby’s immune system function is enhanced due to exposure to mama’s bacteria from within the birth canal and outside. It helps baby to distinguish between good and bad bacteria.

Breastfeeding – babies who nurse within the first hour after birth get access to rich, nutritious colostrum and go on to have a healthy breastfeeding journey. There is also an incredible flow of hormones at play during breastfeeding that helps mamas to bond with their babies and even reduces postpartum depression.

Rebeka Mustale

I understand that not all mamas may be able to experience the golden hour after birth. Maybe you and your baby met up with unforeseen circumstances. Be at peace knowing that you have plenty of time over the next months to intentionally have skin to skin with baby and connect with him as you would’ve liked. Everything can be redeemed.

Birth is such a miraculous event. Savour it and enjoy the precious moments of being able to connect with you and your baby. Those moments of gazing into your baby’s eyes uninterrupted and seeing your husband gently holding baby in his big strong hands, will stay with you forever.

In hope,

Esther

Resources

Lo Mansfield – Labour Mama https://thelabormama.com/what-is-the-golden-hour-after-birth/

Trish – Labour Nurse mama

Vicki Smith https://themummybubble.co.uk/what-happens-after-you-give-birth/

Sanford Health