The “Golden Hour”

Published by admin on February 24, 2026February 24, 2026

The first hour of a baby’s life is so important for their future that it is known as the golden hour. During this period, skin-to-skin contact with the mother should be encouraged immediately after birth, as it brings numerous benefits to both mother and baby, according to the World Health Organization and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics.

Benefits for the baby:

• When born, the baby undergoes a sudden change in temperature, from the warm womb to, in most cases, the cold room of a hospital. Thus, skin-to-skin contact helps the baby feel the warmth of the mother’s body, thus preventing possible cases of hypothermia.
• Through contact, the baby smells the mother, feels her warmth, increasing and strengthening the emotional bond between the two.
• It regulates the heartbeat, helping to reduce crying and stress.
• It improves immunity, reducing the chances of possible future allergies.

Benefits for the mother:

• Reduces rates of postpartum depression
• Helps control blood pressure
• Decreases the risk of postpartum hemorrhage
• Helps reduce maternal weight
• Reduces the chances of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Benefits for breastfeeding:

• Even if the baby is unable to breastfeed, the closeness, searching, and attempts to suckle trigger the release of the hormone prolactin, whose main function is to stimulate milk production by the mammary glands.
• Oxytocin, better known as the love hormone, is released in the mother’s body after the newborn suckles. This helps the uterus contract and facilitates the delivery of the placenta.

It is worth remembering that this contact is even more important for babies born by C-section, as they did not have the chance to pass through the bacteria in the mother’s vaginal and perianal flora. Therefore, if it is confirmed that everything is fine with the mother and child, the baby should go directly to the mother’s arms while the surgery continues.