From the very beginning of a newborn’s life, the importance of keeping mother and baby together is essential and encouraged. The first few hours, often called the Golden Hour or Magical Hour of mother and newborn skin to skin, allows for the nine instinctive stages after birth to play out, and for the first breastfeeding to occur.
Whether mom plans to breastfeed or formula bottle feed, baby will benefit physically and psychologically from being placed skin to skin after birth and onward. When skin to skin with mom, baby can hear mom’s heartbeat, is warmed and calmed, heart and breathing rates are normalized, allows for bonding, and if mom plans to nurse, will stimulate and enhance breastfeeding. Ultimately baby transitions from fetal to newborn life with greater respiratory, temperature, and glucose stability and significantly less crying, indicating decreased stress. Evidence supports that skin to skin contact in the first hour after birth, significantly improves outcomes for both mother and baby. Research by Dr. Ann-Marie Widstrom provided an understanding of the timing of the newborn’s progression through nine observable stages after birth when placed skin to skin. Dr. Widstrom, working with Dr. Kajsa Brimdyr (Healthy Children Project) called this newborn progression in the first hour of birth, “The Magical Hour.” Every newborn will go through these nine innate and instinctive stages, but may vary in timing, often extending beyond one hour to complete the nine stages.
According to Dr. Widstrom, a baby’s nine instinctive stages in the first hours after birth when placed skin to skin are:
- Stage 1: The Birth Cry
- Stage 2: Relaxation
- Stage 3: Awakening
- Stage 4: Activity
- Stage 5: Rest
- Stage 6: Crawling
- Stage 7: Familiarization
- Stage 8: Suckling
- Stage 9: Sleep
These nine stages which occur in specific order should not be rushed, but allowed to happen naturally after baby’s delivery. Even a baby born by caesarean section placed skin to skin with mom, will experience these nine stages given more time, due to mom receiving anesthesia during labor resulting in possible sedation of baby. Necessary procedures and checks are done while the newborn is skin to skin with mom. If medical reasons prohibit mom from holding baby skin to skin immediately after birth, then start as soon as possible. Holding baby skin to skin is recommended to continue past the first hours after birth. Moreover, skin to skin time is encouraged through the first 4-6 weeks after delivery. The physical contact with baby allows for bonding, helps baby transition to the world from the safe, warm, comfortable womb he lived in for nine months, and especially enhances breastfeeding.
Both you and your birth partner should check out and read Dr. Ann-Marie Widstrom’s research of “The Nine Instinctive Stages of the Newborn After Birth,” and Dr. Kajsa Brimdyr’s “The Magical Hour.”
The video “The Magical Hour: Holding Your Baby Skin to Skin in the First Hour After Birth” produced by Dr. Brimdyr, Dr. Widstrom, and Kristin Svensson is a good resource as well: https://amzn.to/3KovUmi
Holding baby and responding to baby’s needs is essential from the moment the newborn is delivered and is vital as baby grows. In the first year, your baby cannot be spoiled by your attention and immediate responses to his needs. YOU are baby’s world and he needs you! Of course, this includes ALL others taking care of baby. Dan Wuori, Founder and President of Early Childhood Policy Solutions, stated “Warm and responsive relationships help infants develop trust, attachment, and a sense of security, which in turn, lead to self-reliance and the ability to regulate one’s own emotions. These abilities have been linked to higher self-esteem, improved stress management, healthier relationships, and even superior academic performance.” Additionally Wuori stated “Parenting is not an all or nothing proposition. It’s impractical to think that even the most attentive parent will be able to respond instantly to EVERY cry. And within the context of a warm and responsive relationship, that’s just fine. In finite amounts, opportunities for your baby to self-soothe can be beneficial. But if you’ve been convinced that responding too often to your infant’s expressions of need is the path to spoiling, think again. Infants can’t be spoiled by love. It’s just that simple.”
There is a lot more parenting information out there! Check out these recommended parenting books:
“Your Baby Skin to Skin: Learn to Trust Your Baby’s Instincts in the First Year” by Rachel Fitz-Desorgher: https://amzn.to/4bN3gHK
“Heads Up Mom: The Early Years with Baby and Toddler” by Lori Arnold: https://amzn.to/4e8ZPfX
“LATCH: A Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage” by Robin Kaplan, M.Ed., IBCLC: https://amzn.to/456RXaV
“Three in a Bed: The Benefits of Sleeping with Your Baby” by Deborah Jackson: https://amzn.to/3VuuIEB
“Sleeping with your Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Cosleeping” by James J. McKenna: https://amzn.to/45ahvE0
“Nurturing Wellness and Joy from Bump to Birth: A Guide to Care and Wellness Through Pregnancy” by Amber Reese: https://amzn.to/4ej9ZuO
“Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby’s First Years, 2nd Edition” by Walter Cook, MD: https://amzn.to/3yWAbLh
“The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education (and What We Should Do About It)” by Dan Wuori: https://amzn.to/3RaQWsq
“Loving Your Child Too Much: Staying Close to Your Kids Without Overprotecting, Overindulging, or Overcontrolling” by Dr. Tin Clinton and Dr. Gary Sibey: https://amzn.to/3KtHpZR
“Loving Your Child is Not Enough: Positive Discipline That Works” by Nancy Samalin: https://amzn.to/3RAIF1t
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