Your baby has arrived! Congratulations! However, you gave birth, the moment you meet your baby has finally come. This is the exciting moment you have been waiting for. It is worth planning for the first moments when your baby comes into the world and meets you.
Your baby has spent 9 months in a warm bath at a constant temperature, with food and drink on tap. Your baby will need to breath air for the first time, adapt to the cool air, and get ready for a first feed. It's a lot! And as long as you are both well, lying in skin contact with you is the safest place for your baby while adapting to life outside the womb.
he first hour after you give birth is known as the golden hour and this is the best time to enjoy some skin-to-skin contact, feed your baby for the first time, and study those beautiful features. If you wish, you can usually request that this first hour is ‘protected’ and any checks for your baby are done after this time. If that’s your preference, make sure you note this down on your birth plan.
The golden hour might not always be possible if you baby needs extra help when he or she is born. In this case, discuss how soon you can have skin to skin with your baby.