The Golden Hour

Posted on: May 5, 2025 | Babies, birth, Body, Information, Motherhood, Postpartum Doulas, Relationships

The Golden Hour has been statistically shown to regulate a baby’s body temperature more quickly following birth. It can increase breastfeeding success and bonding.  The golden hour promotes healthy respiration in the baby and discourages newborn stress immediately after birth. When newborn cleaning and screenings occur after the first feeding, the baby is known to thrive. A Cesarean birth can also benefit from participating in the Golden Hour. After the baby’s delivery and assessment, being placed on a chest for skin-to-skin bonding and feeding will promote the same benefits as a vaginal birth.

The difference is in the experience.

You’ve pushed the final push. Your baby has emerged into the world. You feel your new babe being placed on your chest. You’re sweaty, exhausted, and overjoyed to be over the throes of labor. You gaze into each other’s eyes, as if you two are the only ones in the room. Lost in a pool of Oxytocin and synchronization. The seconds continue…the minutes pass by…the time is endless. A towel has been placed over both of you to keep the heat radiating from your bodies closer to you. Your breathing has become one. The umbilical cord has been granted time to cease pulsating, allowing a maximum level of blood from the placenta to enter the baby’s body. Assessments are put on hold while the surge of hormones permeates the bodies. The two of you left alone to bond.  Moments later, you realize an hour or more has passed and your little one has made its way to the breasts naturally to suckle. Your doula reminds you of the power you have embraced and comforts you. 

You have just experienced the golden hour. These moments will trickle into your postpartum. 

You’ve pushed the final push. Your baby has emerged into the world. Your baby is whisked away for an APGAR assessment. You are lying- sweaty, exhausted, and overwhelmed- after the throes of labor. The shakes begin, the rush of adrenaline and anxiety arise as you wonder where your baby is, how your baby is doing, and when you can hold your baby. Mentally, you are everywhere. Physically, you are paralyzed with shock and in awe of what you and your body have just endured. Your doula reminds you of the power you have embraced and comforts you.

You did not get to experience the golden hour. These moments will trickle into your postpartum. 

At some point during the postpartum period, an instinct clicks in the birthing person. Every person’s experience differs, and how one’s birth plays out will stay with them for a lifetime. It’s the simple scents, sounds, and serenities that trigger emotions in memories, whether pleasant or unpleasant. Hospitals in Las Vegas appreciate and adhere to the Golden Hour as a standard practice. When a birth is low-risk and no emergencies occur, the golden hour is typically observed by protocol within the facility. In the instance that the birthing person or the baby needs extra attention, the golden hour may be delayed or forgone.  

The Golden Hour’s Benefits:

• Promotes skin-to-skin
• Regulates the birthing person’s and the baby’s body temperatures 
• Increased breastfeeding success past the initial 2 weeks
• Allows natural afterbirth contractions to aid in uterine healing 
• Greater respiratory stability within the newborn
• Decreased stress and crying in newborns