When your baby is born, their body enters a rapid but natural transition. The very first action is usually placing the baby on your chest for skin-to-skin contact. This is not only comforting — it has powerful physiological benefits. Your baby’s breathing stabilizes, heart rate becomes more regular, and temperature is regulated more effectively than if the baby were placed alone. Skin-to-skin also lowers stress hormones and provides a strong sense of security in this completely new environment.

During these moments, the midwife observes your baby without interrupting the closeness. A quick assessment of tone, breathing, and colour is made — not as a test, but as part of monitoring the baby’s adjustment to life outside the womb. The umbilical cord is usually cut once it has finished pulsating, giving your baby additional blood volume and support during the transition.

At the same time, the midwife checks how you are doing. Your uterus begins contracting, bleeding is monitored, and you receive support as needed. The most important goal is to keep you and your baby together. Many babies begin showing early feeding cues within minutes, often searching for the breast on their own when left undisturbed.

These first minutes and the first hour are often called “the golden hour.” It is a period where warmth, calm, and uninterrupted closeness create the best possible conditions for attachment, breastfeeding, and physiological stability.

Alma’s tips

• Settle into a comfortable position so your baby can rest on you peacefully.

• Ask the midwife to explain what’s happening — you’re part of the process.

• Skin-to-skin is one of the most powerful things you can do in the first hour.