Skin-to-Skin and Golden Hour

Why first hour is important for baby and mother

Why first hour is important for baby and mother

A major physiological transition for the newborn Birth requires a newborn to move rapidly from placental support to independent breathing and circulation. With the first effective breaths, the lungs expand, fetal lung fluid begins to clear, and pulmonary blood flow increases. Circulatory pathways used before birth start to change as the baby adapts to receiving […]

Golden hour after birth explained

Golden hour after birth explained

What the golden hour means The golden hour usually means the first approximately 60 minutes after birth, during which a stable newborn is placed skin-to-skin on the birthing parent’s bare chest and unnecessary interruptions are minimized. The term describes a care framework rather than a guaranteed sequence or an exact stopwatch interval. Some families have […]

When skin-to-skin may be delayed

When skin-to-skin may be delayed

Early contact is the goal, but safety comes first For a vigorous, medically stable newborn and an alert, stable parent, skin-to-skin contact should generally begin as soon as possible after birth. The baby is dried, placed upright and prone on the parent’s bare chest, and covered with a warm blanket while clinicians observe breathing, color, […]

Skin-to-skin contact explained

Skin-to-skin contact explained

What skin-to-skin contact means Skin-to-skin contact means placing a newborn, usually wearing only a diaper and sometimes a hat, prone against a parent’s bare chest. The baby and parent are then covered with a warm, dry blanket while the baby’s face remains visible. Immediately after birth, the birthing parent is generally the first choice when […]