The Golden Hour
When it comes to breastfeeding, how you start can deeply influence how your journey unfolds. While every mother-baby pair is different, research and experience agree on one powerful truth: breastfeeding within the first hour of birth lays the foundation for a smoother, more successful breastfeeding journey.
This “golden hour,” immediately after birth, is more than just a sweet bonding moment. It’s a critical time when a baby’s natural instincts and a mother’s body are perfectly aligned to begin a healthy breastfeeding relationship. Here’s why that first hour matters so much.
1. It Encourages Baby’s Natural Reflexes
Babies are born with an incredible instinct to breastfeed. When placed skin-to-skin on their mother's chest, most newborns will begin to root, search, and even crawl toward the breast—a behavior known as the “breast crawl.” This reflex is strongest in the first hour and becomes less coordinated as time goes on.
By latching during this window, babies often feed more effectively and confidently from the very beginning, and self-attach, reducing future challenges like shallow latching, nipple pain, or poor milk transfer.
2. It Stimulates Milk Production
Breastfeeding early helps kickstart the hormonal feedback loop that drives milk supply. When your baby latches and suckles in that first hour, your body gets the message: Milk is needed...Start producing!
This early stimulation:
- Increases levels of prolactin and oxytocin (the hormones responsible for milk production and letdown)
- Helps build a more robust, sustainable milk supply
- Encourages your milk to 'come in' earlier
Mothers who initiate breastfeeding early are more likely to establish exclusive breastfeeding and continue longer-term.
3. It Builds Mother’s Confidence
Breastfeeding can be overwhelming in the beginning. But latching your baby within the first hour( when they are often most alert), can provide a much-needed confidence boost.
Seeing your baby instinctively latch on and nurse reassures you that your body knows what it’s doing. It affirms that this is a natural, mutual process, and that you and your baby are a team.
4. It Helps Prevent Common Breastfeeding Hurdles
Many early breastfeeding struggles, like low milk supply, can be minimised by initiating breastfeeding within the first hour. That early start gets your baby used to the breast quickly and trains your body to respond to their needs efficiently.
Hospitals that support early breastfeeding often see lower rates of formula supplementation and higher breastfeeding success at discharge.
5. It Strengthens the Emotional Connection
While the physical benefits of early breastfeeding are significant, the emotional impact is just as powerful. That first hour of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and feeding releases oxytocin, the “love hormone,” helping both mother and baby feel calm, connected, and safe.
This emotional foundation can make you feel more motivated and emotionally invested in continuing your breastfeeding journey, especially through any initial bumps in the road.
6. It Sets the Tone for Support
When breastfeeding is prioritised in the first hour, it often signals a supportive environment; whether that’s a birth partner advocating for skin-to-skin, a midwife helping with latch, or a nurse encouraging rooming-in.
Support in that very first hour can influence the kind of breastfeeding support you receive throughout your hospital stay, and even beyond.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just One Hour—It’s the Start of Everything