The Golden Hour

The golden hour refers to the first hour post birth. 

During the golden hour, baby is held to the mother's chest, skin to skin. This enables a gentle entry into this world for baby, and allows both mother and baby to bond. The golden hour is a precious time to be protected, surrounded by an external environment of hushed voices, dim lighting, calm and quiet. 

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During the holden hour, skin to skin contact with baby brings forth surges of oxytocin within the mother. These surges of oxytocin encourage the uterus to contract, minimising postpartum bleeding whilst also detaching the placenta from the uterine wall in preparation for the physiological birth of the placenta. 

Skin to skin contact during the golden hour supports baby in regulating their body temperature, stabilising their breathing and heart rate, whilst also creating a space for baby to form healthy maternal attachment. 

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The golden hour is a potent time to establish breastfeeding. Over the course of the golden hour, baby will smell the mother's colostrum and will slowly move to her breast to latch. This is known as the breast crawl. It is here that baby will often open their eyes, holding their gaze with their mother. This early breastfeeding aids in establishing the mother's milk supply, and encourages the continuous flow of oxytocin within both mother and baby.