Secrets of the Golden Hour: A Sacred Window After Birth
Discover the physiological magic and emotional unfolding of the first hours postpartum—for mother, baby, and those who bear witness.
The “Golden Hour”—sometimes called the Enchantment Hour—refers to the first sacred hour (or hours) after birth, when mother and baby meet outside the womb for the first time. In this profound window of transition, their bodies adjust, their hormones dance, and their bond begins. It is the moment of imprinting, breastfeeding initiation, and deep physiological connection.
This tender journey—from the final surges of labour to the quiet settling of a newborn on their mother’s chest—is an entire universe of transformation, condensed into mere moments. May this reflection offer insight and reverence for what unfolds in the early postpartum period, for those preparing to birth or support birth.
Introducing the dyad
To understand “The Golden Hour” we first must acknowledge that the mother and baby are a ‘dyad”, an emotional and biological pair. They are two separate beings, complete on their own and yet totally interdependent.
A mother’s chest and abdomen are the absolutely ideal environments for a newborn to thrive. It is warm, familiar and safe. During the early transition to life a newborn continues to receive oxygen and nourishment from the placenta (latin for cake), as their remaining blood is transfused back into them. This concludes their relationship with the placenta and releases them from the “feto-placental unit” which has sustained them in utero, and moves them to the exo-uterine environment- where they receive oxygen with their newly expanded lungs, and nourishment from their mother’s breasts.
In the first moments of life, some seismic changes occur quite quickly (in the scheme of things).
The rhythmic beginnings
If the babe has been fortunate to experience labour, their way to the world is primed by the rhythmic massage of the uterus, flexing its unique muscular dance. Fluid filled lungs aid fetal development, but in the new world hinder respiration. This repetitious squeezing of the multi-layered uterine muscles begins the process of clearing this fluid.
If the baby has made it all the way to the birth canal, (otherwise called and less associated with gondolas, the vagina), where some firm and gentle squeezing helps expel both them from the uterus as well as a good sight more of this now superfluous fluid from their lungs. Simultaneously, surfactant is being secreted into the lungs – getting ready for the great expansion.
Once the lungs have inflated for the first time, this surfactant will help them remain open forevermore, throughout each breath, creating a gentle ebb and flow of air transfer, but never returning to their collapsed state.
It starts with a breath
And oh! What a delicious breath that first one is! Establishing that glorious expanse may, quite understandably, take a small moment. A minute even. But with everything else going on, a minute is really a very small parcel of time.
Once each alveolus is expanded (often with a roar of a cry), the chain reaction has commenced! In the breaths that follow, moment to moment, a number of changes occur.
What commences is the very complicated process of heart channels and blood flow shifting and changing. For physiologists among us the Ductus Arteriosus, which previously allowed blood to bypass the lungs, now begins to constrict. The Umbilical Arteries and Umbilical Vein, which carried blood to and from the placenta, also close down as they are no longer needed. The Ductus Venosus, which once allowed oxygenated blood from the placenta to bypass the liver, also shuts off. Meanwhile, the Pulmonary Artery, which leads to the now air-filled lungs, dilates and opens fully to allow blood to flow freely into this newly functional respiratory organ.
For the layman, what is happening is this: the entire way this baby has received oxygen and nutrients—through the placenta—is now gracefully retired. Pre-prepared pathways awaken. Blood begins to flow in new directions. Some channels close quietly, others stir to life, stepping into their long-awaited roles. The mechanics of this are, quite frankly, extraordinary—and yet, every moment of every day, newborn infants across the world make this leap, without a single conscious thought.
If left to wait until the umbilical cord ceases pulsing, this infant will be granted the remaining 30% of its blood returned to it, after which, the latin pancake has quite worn out its usefulness.
Now comes the final release. The mother’s womb, stretched and softened by labour, must part ways with the placenta. And here, the baby—new to the world but deeply attuned—may offer unexpected help by latching to the breast. In doing so, a flood of oxytocin rises once more—the same cosmic hormone that summoned the baby into her arms.
The beginning of the end
With peak levels of oxytocin and endorphins, the placenta is inevitibly released from the uterine wall as the wall itself begins to clamp down on those interwoven blood vessels, no longer required to deposit large volumes of nourishing blood to sustain the baby.
Instead, the womb begins its quiet return—starting the slow and steady process of involution. From its lofty place near the ribcage, it lowers to rest just beneath the umbilicus (belly button), pausing there briefly. In time, it continues its descent, shrinking back into the pelvis—resuming its pre-pregnant, pear-like shape and size. Though this journey takes around 12 weeks to complete, by six weeks postpartum we will no longer feel it above the pubic bone.
Fortunately for the infant, they have been practicing the act of suckling in utero for some time. The scent of milk is deliciously similar to amniotic fluid – which still carry the scent on their tiny hands, as they paw their way to the breast. A familiar smelling pathway guides them to the soft and welcoming nipple. Understandably, the journey there has been a tiring one, so once arrived, they may well fall fast asleep.
Upon awaking, the babe then makes a series of gestures to get to know their new environment, touching, pawing, licking, nudging. Really sizing up this wondrous new world. Again, another nap may be warranted.
Eventually, perhaps with a squark or two, some gentle licks and open-mouthed kisses, propelled by those strong legs gaining hold on the abdomen, by way of the now much less dramatic fundus (or top ridge of the uterus). This newborn infant opens wide to draw the nipple deep into their mouth. It may, justifiably, take a few tries to get just the right spot.
Another joyous addition to our hormonal cocktail is Prolactin, which although quite high at birth, requires suckling at the breast to be maintained. Prolactin gets straight to work encouraging the body to make milk. Oestrogen joins in, quietly supporting the new mother’s keen sensitivity. This hormonal symphony helps the mother tune herself to her baby’s world—responding with urgency, with tenderness, and with interest to every real or imagined cry that will echo through the hours, days, weeks, months and years to come.
Adrenaline, which was needed only minutes ago to embolden the pushes of the mother and inspire the newborn to breathe, begins to subside.
The body warmth provided from her baby helps counteract the common post-birth chills. And, in a beautiful act of symbiosis, the mother lends her own body heat to this new and immature babe, stabilising their transition to the world. In fact, the mother, by simply holding her baby, can help her baby regulate their temperature, breathing pattern, heart rate and maintain their blood sugars. Additionally, if they are willing and able to feed them from their breast, of course, they become a complete ecosystem.
The real work
These complex shifts and world-shaking steps to solidifying life in the great wild are happening simultaneously as the mother and child forge a neuroprotective bond. In fact, if observed as other mammals, we would witness the instinctive behaviours she enacts to ensure the connection and survival of her new infant. We would also caution any one present to be silent and observe- Lest they interfere with this essential process.
The mother, after ensuring primarily the survival of her babe, now begins to explore them with her fingertips. She may stroke them, and hold them, possibly cuddle them up towards her, often to her left side (where her heartbeat is heard the loudest). There she meets their gaze - making eye contact and beginning a lifelong conversation, often afterwards introducing them to her mate.
Fortunately for the mother, who is scanning constantly for signs of connection, her newborn infant is absolutely primed for this first meeting and arrives with their own unique ways to communicate and respond. The baby reacts to each coo and sound of their mother, listening for her voice they already know so well, eyes with perfect vision and focus set to the distance from the breast to her face.
In the calm, low-lit and undisturbed space where they were born, the first introduction sparks the flame that is a beautiful ballet of bonding and connection, where each party learns to listen and respond to the other. This primary - nay - primordial relationship sets the path for all relationships to follow. As a social species, the vital importance of that cannot be overstated.
Quiet company
So what can the supporting cast of loved ones and professional people do to assist: nothing would be best. No bright lights, no chatter, no questions, tests or interference, you don’t even need to utter a word of congratulations. Take your cue from the mother. Sit back and watch in quiet anticipation. Quiet murmurs of recognition if she presents her wondrous prize towards you, but nothing more.
Think of her, if you will, as a wild animal. She has birthed in captivity but like all mammals must not be spooked. Don’t make the mistake of caring for her rational mind. Let it sleep just a few moments more while her instinctive self attends to the job at hand.
You must guard this sanctuary with vigour. Understanding that her same body that created the intricacies of sight, hearing and taste, the uncharted wonders of thought, that moulded eyeballs, brain matter and deliciously pink fingers and toes will have no trouble finishing the comparatively primitive task of evicting a well-used (but now superfluous) organ and opening the floodgates of milk production!
But be alert. This wondrous shift is most keenly experienced by the unobserved. Have a thought as to how you will camouflage your body, your voice, your fears and worries which all must be dimmed along with the lights.
In short. Let all else fade to the background to better serve her illumination and the radiance of her babe, in this golden hour of enchantment.
