You’ve just birthed your baby. You did it. You made it through labour.

And then… suddenly, everything speeds up.

💨 Doctors and midwives start doing checks.

💨 They clamp and cut the cord before you even process what’s happening.

💨 They take baby to weigh, measure, and clean them—before you’ve had a chance to hold them.

But here’s the truth:

💡 The first hour after birth is just as important as the birth itself.

💡 Rushing through it can disrupt bonding, breastfeeding, and baby’s adjustment to life outside the womb.

💡 You CAN slow things down and keep this time sacred.

Today, we’ll talk about:

✔ Why the first hour (the ‘golden hour’) is crucial for you and baby.

✔ Which hospital routines can wait (even if they make it seem urgent).

✔ How to protect this time and make sure it unfolds on YOUR terms.

Because how your baby enters the world matters just as much as how they are born.

⏳ What Is the ‘Golden Hour’ and Why Is It So Important?

The first 60 minutes after birth—often called the Golden Hour—is a critical transition period for both mother and baby.

During this time, your baby is:

👶 Regulating their breathing and temperature

👶 Soaking in your scent, voice, and warmth

👶 Primed to initiate breastfeeding naturally

And YOU are:

🤱 Flooded with oxytocin, the bonding and healing hormone

🤱 Recovering from birth—your uterus is contracting, reducing the risk of postpartum bleeding

🤱 Meant to be soaking in your baby—not dealing with unnecessary procedures

💡 The first hour isn’t just about bonding—it’s about setting the stage for everything that follows.

🚑 The Unnecessary Procedures That Disrupt the Golden Hour

Most hospitals have a checklist of “standard” newborn procedures they want to complete immediately after birth.

But guess what? Most of these can WAIT.

🚨 Immediate Cord Clamping – Cutting the cord too soon deprives baby of up to 30% of their blood supply.

🚨 Rushing Baby Off to Be Weighed & Measured – This can wait—skin-to-skin is more important in the first hour.

🚨 Routine Suctioning of Baby’s Airways – Often unnecessary unless baby is truly struggling to breathe.

🚨 Newborn Checks & Injections – Vitamin K, Hepatitis B, and other newborn procedures can usually wait.

💡 Unless there is an immediate medical emergency, you have the right to delay these interventions.

🚀 Your baby’s first moments should be spent with YOU—not under bright hospital lights, being poked and prodded.

🛑 Delayed Cord Clamping: Why It’s So Important

For decades, hospitals cut the cord immediately. But research now shows that:

✔ Delaying cord clamping by just 1-3 minutes can significantly increase baby’s iron stores for months.

✔ Babies who get their full cord blood have better oxygenation and circulation.

✔ There is NO medical reason to clamp the cord immediately unless there is an emergency.

💡 Instead of rushing, wait until the cord turns white and stops pulsing—this signals baby has received all their blood.

🚀 If they try to clamp too soon, ask: “Is there a medical reason we can’t wait a few minutes?”

🤱 The ‘Breast Crawl’ – Letting Baby Lead the Way

Did you know that babies are born with an instinct to find the breast on their own?

This is called the breast crawl, and it happens when:

✔ Baby is placed directly on your chest, skin-to-skin.

✔ They are given time to adjust, smell, and root toward the nipple.

✔ They latch on their own, without forceful positioning.

💡 Forcing baby to latch too soon can interfere with their instincts—giving them time allows for a better latch and easier breastfeeding.

🚀 Instead of nurses grabbing baby and trying to “help” them latch, let baby take the lead!

🛑 What If You Need a C-Section? Can You Still Have a Golden Hour?

YES! Even if you have a C-section, you can still:

✔ Ask for immediate skin-to-skin in the operating room (your midwife or partner can help hold baby on your chest).

✔ Request delayed cord clamping (unless baby needs immediate medical help).

✔ Advocate for minimal separation from baby after birth.

💡 Even in surgical births, the first hour matters—and you have the right to protect it.

📢 How to Protect Your Golden Hour (Even in a Hospital)

If you want to keep the first hour sacred, you’ll need to communicate your wishes clearly.

Here’s how:

📝 Include it in your birth plan:

“I want immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth.”
“I request delayed cord clamping until the cord stops pulsing.”
“I want all non-urgent newborn procedures to wait until after the first hour.”

🗣 Have your birth partner or doula advocate for you:

If staff try to rush things, they can step in and say, “We’d like to delay that.”

💡 Medical emergencies are one thing, but if everything is fine, you have the right to keep this time sacred.

💡 What This Means for You

✔ The first hour after birth is crucial for bonding, breastfeeding, and baby’s adjustment.

✔ Most hospital routines can wait—baby’s needs come first.

✔ Delayed cord clamping and immediate skin-to-skin should be standard practice.

✔ You have the right to protect this time and make sure it happens on your terms.

So today, ask yourself:

💡 Have I included my golden hour preferences in my birth plan?

💡 Does my birth partner know to advocate for me in case I can’t?

💡 What steps can I take to make sure I get this precious time with my baby?

🚀 Because this isn’t just about birth—it’s about how your baby enters the world.

28. What No One Tells You About the First Hour After Birth

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