“The Golden Hour” is the period (at least 1 hour or more) immediately after a mother gives birth. Ideally, this hour or more would be undisturbed with mom and baby skin to skin. If possible, delay hospital procedures (weighing, bathing) as it delays the first breastfeed 

Some benefits of “The Golden Hour” include:  

**Baby led initiation of breastfeeding: Within the first few hours after birth most healthy newborns will instinctively move to their mother’s breast and attach on their own. This is known as the “breast crawl.” In addition to the importance of early feeding for mother-baby attachment and bonding, it also helps to expel the placenta, reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.  

**Body System regulation: Babies who are left skin to skin with their mothers for the first hours immediately after birth are better able to regulate their temperature and regulation 

**An undisturbed first hour with skin to skin also reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) 

**Promotes mother and baby attachment 

**Improves breastfeeding success rates- Breastfeeding initiation and duration is likely to be more successful with babies who have early skin to skin contact. 

There are so many benefits from skin to skin, not just during the first few hours after birth. Click to see the benefits of skin to skin beyond the first week 

When babies who have not been exposed to medications are placed skin to skin with their mothers and left undisturbed, they will instinctually crawl to their mother’s breast and attach themselves to the nipple. This is now known as the ‘breast crawl’  

Body System regulation:  Babies who are left skin to skin with their mothers for the first hours immediately after birth are better able to regulate their temperature and respiration. Newborns aren’t able to adjust their body temperature as well as older children and adults as they don’t have the same insulating fat levels. They have spent nine months in an environment that is perfectly temperature controlled. If babies lose too much heat, they have to use more energy and oxygen than they can spare to try and keep their temperature stable 

• To promote production of oxytocin and prolactin, make sure your environment after birth remains warm and calm. 

Prolactin and oxytocin are released in response to stimulation by the baby’s sucking at the breast. Prolactin is responsible for milk production, and oxytocin for milk letdown. However, these hormones are beneficial in other ways. Prolactin is sometimes called “the love hormone.” In animals, it is responsible for mothering behaviors. Oxytocin is responsible for the relaxed, sometimes sleepy, calm feelings that accompany milk letdown. Together, these two hormones keep mothers relaxed, calm, and ready to care for their babies (Uvnas-Moberg, 2003). In a very real sense, the birth of a baby is also the birth of a mother—the birth of a breastfeeding baby and mother 

Within the first few hours after birth, most healthy newborns will instinctively move to their mother’s breast and attach on their own.