Your First Step Toward Breastfeeding Success: The Golden Hour
What Happens During the Golden Hour?
Right after delivery, placing your baby skin-to-skin on your chest can:
Regulate their body temperature and heart rate
Encourage instinctive behaviors like the breast crawl
Support early bonding and reduce maternal stress
Your newborn, driven by instinct, may begin to make small, coordinated movements that guide them to the breast. This natural progression, often referred to as the breast crawl, allows your baby to self-latch, setting up a strong foundation for future feeds.
Why Skin-to-Skin Is So Important
Skin-to-skin contact is about more than comfort; it has proven physiological benefits:
It stimulates oxytocin release, which supports milk letdown and maternal bonding
It helps establish early breastfeeding routines
It reduces crying and stress in both baby and mom
In fact, studies have shown that moms who practice early skin-to-skin are more likely to exclusively breastfeed at six weeks postpartum.
Setting Up for a Successful First Latch
The first latch is a big moment. Here’s how to support it:
Lie in a semi-reclined position
Place baby belly-down on your chest, allowing them to root and find the breast
Allow baby to self-attach if possible, or gently guide if needed
Remember: if the latch is painful, it likely needs adjusting. A good latch should feel comfortable and deep.
Early Bonding Boosts Long-Term Breastfeeding
When babies are given the opportunity to latch during the Golden Hour, they:
Tend to latch more effectively in subsequent feeds
Have a stronger suck reflex
Establish breastfeeding routines more easily
Mothers also experience:
Improved milk production
Greater breastfeeding confidence
Reduced risk of postpartum depression
If you’re craving more clarity around what breastfeeding actually looks like in those first 42 days—what’s normal, what’s not, and how to feel confident in your supply—I’ve got you.
👉 Grab my ebook, “Mama’s Milk Essentials”, for a real, research-backed look at the early weeks of breastfeeding. It’s packed with practical guidance and honest insight you won’t get in a hospital pamphlet.
Need more personalized support?
💬 Book my Milk Mastery Breastfeeding Support Package—you’ll get unlimited chat access and five private consults with me over two weeks. I’ll be right by your side, guiding you through every feed, growth spurt, and emotional moment to help you reach your goals!
You're not meant to figure this out alone—and with the right support, you won’t have to.
