The Golden Hour: What is It?
- Praise Konsavage
- Mar 6
- 2 min read
Have you ever heard of the "golden hour" of birth? The name sounds magical, and it really is.
Let's dive into what it is, why it's important, and how it points to a loving God.
"The Golden Hour" is the first hour after your baby is born. Pregnancy and Newborn describe it as "the first hour after birth when a new mother has uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with her new baby to facilitate bonding, initiate breastfeeding, and slowly transition the little one from the womb to the world." You get to gaze at the little person you've been growing for nine months and see their face for the first time. Your baby will already recognize your voice, and now they'll be able to see your face and know that you are their mother. This moment is incredibly beautiful because "following the excitement and stress of birth, this time of bonding can bring comfort to a new baby, who up until very recently enjoyed the controlled environment of the uterus with plenty of food, warmth, and protection." They might look into your eyes, cry a little, and begin the newborn crawl to find your breast. When your baby is ready, he or she will begin nosing around for the breast, so you don't even have to rush the first latch. "Giving adequate time for an infant to attempt the breast crawl and feed for as long as necessary has a significant positive impact on the onset of lactation and quality of attachment." On the flip side, when the golden hour is interrupted, bonding and lactation don't seem to go as well for the mother or the baby.
During this priceless hour, oxytocin surges and causes the mother to fall deeply in love with her baby. Isaiah 66:13 describes God's love for us as a mother comforting her child, and that's the most beautiful picture of love that could be used. Just like the unique beauty of a mother and her baby during this first hour, God's love for you is stronger than any other bond. He created you and knows you so intimately, yet loves you deeply and completely. Rest in that love, my friend!
Can I have the golden hour even if I had a c-section? Absolutely! South Shore Health wrote, "We encourage all birthing parents and newborns who are medically stable to participate in the Golden Hour – including patients who have C-sections." Breathing can often be difficult for babies born via c-section, requiring a few minutes of attention from the doctors. But once everything is stable, you can absolutely request your baby to be placed skin-to-skin for as much of the first hour as possible.
What if there's a medical problem, and I can't have immediate skin-to-skin? Some babies are born needing immediate medical care. If this is the case, the golden hour will most likely be impossible, but there are still countless ways to bond with your baby! Talk or sing to him or her, pray out loud to them, and hold them skin-to-skin once your doctor says it's okay. You will still have a priceless love and bond with them that no other human can replicate.
-Welcome Life Doula
References:
Isaiah 66:13
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