12. Let The Magic Happen: The Importance of a Physiological Golden Hour

Hey there, mama-to-be, let me tell you something – ✨the Golden Hour✨ after birth is an absolute game-changer. It's a time that is crucial for both you and your baby, and you do NOT want to miss out on it. The best way to get the best results? Have a physiological golden hour, undisturbed. Just you and your baby. 

So, what exactly is the golden hour, you might be wondering? It's the first hour after your baby is born, and it's an incredibly special time for bonding, cuddling, and getting to know your little one. And let me tell you, it's nothing short of magical.

Let's talk about bonding first. During the golden hour, you and your baby get to know each other. You get to gaze into your little one's eyes and fall in love. This is the time that you get to meet that perfect being that you’ve been waiting for for 9 long months. It's a time when your baby can feel your warmth and love, and you can feel their tiny heartbeat. This is where the foundation for a strong and healthy relationship with your child is laid. 

But that's not all – the golden hour is also a crucial time for breastfeeding. Your baby is most alert and ready to nurse during this time. They will instinctively start searching for your nipple and do what’s called a “breast crawl”. It's like your baby knows exactly what to do. In fact, this is why our nipples become darker during pregnancy! To create a bullseye for our baby! 🎯

If your baby doesn't nurse during the golden hour, establishing a good breastfeeding relationship can be a little more difficult. During these first days, your body is producing colostrum, which is like liquid gold for your baby. It's packed with nutrients and antibodies that will help your baby fight off infection and illness. Even if you don’t plan on breastfeeding (which I would NOT recommend,) at least give your baby a headstart and don’t let them miss out on all of the benefits from this special kind of breastmilk.

But here's something you might not know – there are actual risks to your baby if they're taken away from you during the golden hour. When your baby is born, they're covered in vernix and amniotic fluid, which is their natural protective coating. Delayed bathing is becoming more common these days, but if your baby is taken away and washed immediately, they're losing that protective coating, which can increase their risk of infection.

You know that hat that the hospital staff puts on your baby right after they come into the worlf? Take that ugly thing off. You are meant to smell your baby! Their scent actually helps with the bonding process. Being skin-to-skin with your baby regulates their temperature and their blood sugar. It also helps them with their respiratory system. 

Another huge thing to advocate for during your golden hour? Delayed Cord Clamping! Tell your provider that you want to WAIT FOR WHITE. I’m sorry, the “30 to 60 seconds” that ACOG recommends isn’t near long enough. You want ALL of that blood in the placenta to infuse into the baby for them to get the best start in this world. 

Up to 30% of their blood is still in the placenta when they are born and this allows them to have a little bit of extra time to transition into a world where they’ll be breathing air. So many unnecessary complications can be caused by doctors clamping the cord. This will keep their iron stores up to optimal levels for up to 6 months after birth! It also increases the amount of stem cells that they will have in their body which helps with their immune system and their growth. 

A physiological third stage means a more optimal golden hour. When you don’t have nurses pressing down on your stomach trying to get your uterus to clamp down and your placenta to detach, or if you don’t have fake hormones like Pitocin ruining your own body’s oxytocin production, or if your OB can keep his hands out of your body and getting elbow deep in your uterus to manually extract your placenta, and just letting your body naturally expel it with a few pushes from you, your golden hour will be much more peaceful. Find an OB who is willing to work with you to have an expectantly managed third stage instead of actively managed. 

You know all of those tests that the nurses have to do? The important ones, they can do while baby is skin-to-skin with you. Vitals and auscultation can be done while baby is sitting comfortably on mom’s chest. The measurements, like weight, length, head circumference? Those aren’t important and can be done after this crucial bonding time. The other newborn procedures shouldn’t be done at all, IMO, but that’s for another blog post😉

Being separated at all from you can cause stress for your baby. Being born is a traumatic experience for your little one, and being close to you during the golden hour can help them feel safe and secure. 

So, what can you do to make sure you don't miss out on the golden hour? Well, first and foremost, make sure that your partner and your doula are on the same page as you. They need to know every detail of your plan front and back to be able to advocate for what you want. You also need to talk to your provider. Make sure they know full well how important this time is to you, and make sure they know that you are in charge of your birth. These are conversations that need to happen during your prenatal appointments - before you go into labor. Trying to cover this after you have birthed your baby is too late. 

If you’re getting the feeling that your OB isn’t the right one for you, grab my OB/Midwife Interview Guide! It can help you narrow down which OB or Midwife you should birth. You want to choose someone who has the same values around birth as you, so you don’t end up in a regrettable situation during your labor because your OB doesn’t respect your autonomy. 

Have your partner or your doula explain how you would like this time to go. If you're having a hospital birth, make sure you have a birth plan that includes the golden hour. Let them know that you want to bond with your baby and breastfeed during this time. 

There have been many instances where this time IS discussed with the provider, but they try to go against mom’s wishes for no reason, possibly other than it’s what they are used to doing. This is where your partner or doula needs to find their voice and speak up. Let the staff know that you will not tolerate any deviance from mom’s plan as long as baby looks healthy. 

If you're having a home birth, ensure your midwife knows how you would like the golden hour to unfold. They'll be able to help you create an environment that's conducive to bonding and breastfeeding.

Make sure you advocate for this time, Mama. It is more widely accepted now how absolutely vital this period is to the mother/baby dyad, but with my first back in 2015, I missed out on the first part of that Golden Hour. Yep. It happened to me. My first newborn was whisked away so that the RN could deep suction her because hospital staff has no understanding of birth and they stole those precious first moments from me. If my baby was placed on my chest and left attached to her placenta, she would have been absolutely fine. It enrages me to this day. Which is why, I’m here - I want better for you. 

The golden hour is a magical, but very short period of time that you simply can't afford to miss. It's a time for bonding, breastfeeding, and getting to know your little one. Understand that there are actual risks to your baby if they're taken away from you during this time, and make sure you talk to your healthcare provider and create a birth plan that includes a detailed golden hour. Trust me, it's an experience you won't want to miss out on.