The Golden Hour…
And what it looks like in Jacksonville
The first few minutes after a baby is born are some of the most memorable moments in a parents life. This is called the golden hour. From the first peek at those beautiful eyes to that sweet baby smell, the love for that precious baby is undeniable. But some parents find that for one reason or another they didn’t get much time to spend with their baby before the medical staff needed to do some routine tests and procedures. So let’s take a deeper look at what all the fuss is about!
What is the golden hour?
In short, it is the first hour of a baby’s life post birth. This time is generally spent with baby having skin to skin contact with the mother, enabling fully delayed cord clamping, enjoying the first breastfeeding session (if you choose to breastfeed) and taking a few moments to let that awesomeness of what you just did sink in.
Why is it so important?
Observing the golden hour at birth is crucial in stabilizing a newborns respiratory rate, body temperature and blood sugar levels. As well as creates the opportunity to establish breastfeeding in the first hour of life which increases the duration of breastfeeding most resent studies are finding (see EBB). This uninterrupted skin to skin gives way for fully delayed cord clamping which comes with a myriad of health benefits that include ensuring the baby has his/her full blood volume! The NCBI/ACOG & the MHNP all agree that this golden hour be observed unless the mother or baby are in need of medical management that necessitates ending it in order to provide proper care.
Jacksonville’s routine hospital protocols on it:
In general, most of our eleven major labor & delivery units in the northeast Florida area state in their hospital protocols, that they do participate in observing the golden hour. But as a Birth Doula that has served clients at every one of these facilities over the years, I will tell you that whether they facilitate this practice, does vary widely based on a few factors. So what are those factors you ask?
If the newborn or mother is in distress. If this is the case, rest assured that they will provide the proper medical care and throw the plan of the golden hour out the window to save a life. Which is the purpose of what they are there for anyway right!?!
If you have a cesarean. Often staff will do the newborn exams, weight, measurements etc. first, then bring baby over to you for your partner to hold next to you in the event of a cesarean birth. BUT this practice is not the current recommendation according to the most resent research on the benefits of immediate skin-to-skin. Instead birthing parents should be provided with immediate uninterrupted skin-to-skin in the OR as long as the mother & baby are healthy enough to do so, says evidencebasedbirth.com. Hospitals in the northeast Florida area that provide this type of care (a gentle cesarean birth) routinely are (but not limited to):
St. Vincent’s Southside & UF Health North. But others will provide it if the OB and anesthesiologist are on board with it. For more on golden hour supportive providers see our resource list.
If it is close to shift change. Let’s be honest. Hospitals are a place of business like every other business on the planet. They need to be efficient with their time and resources. And from time to time we see them itching to do those newborn screenings and measurements sooner than the golden hour allows. Or the staff is slammed with patients in labor and truly have to get a job done before moving onto the next patient. Can’t blame them for wanting to get things done you know!
While these instances are rare, they do happen. So, if you find yourself having your baby taken off of your chest immediately after birth & do not want this… Tell the staff and ask them why they are wanting baby now. Is it because of #1 (listed above^) or some other reason? Generally you can avoid this if you inform the staff ahead of time what your wishes are regarding the golden hour.
Most of our local labor & delivery units are respectful of these wishes and are great at facilitating this special time for you! But every once in a while we see it go out the window for a reason that is NOT a medical necessity.
The Bottom Line is:
The golden hour has many benefits for mothers & babies and according to ALL up to date evidence based research, it should be supported in all types of birth as long as the mother and baby are healthy enough to participate in it. And remember, YOU, the birthing patient, get a say in how you spend that golden hour with your baby!
