The First Days
The Golden Hour
Whenever medically possible, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth can help your baby transition to life outside the womb and supports early breastfeeding. The first hours and days after birth can feel overwhelming. You and your baby are meeting each other, recovering from birth and learning how to breastfeed—all at the same time.
Skin-to-skin contact can:
● Help regulate your baby's temperature and heart rate.
● Encourage early feeding behaviours.
● Support bonding.
● Help stimulate hormones involved in milk production.
● Support the establishment of breastfeeding.
Remember
The first feed doesn't have to be perfect.
Birth can be overwhelming, and breastfeeding is a new experience for both you and your baby. Support with positioning and attachment can make the experience more comfortable.
Skin-to-skin
Place your baby, wearing only a nappy, directly against your bare chest and covering both of you with a blanket. It;s not only beneficial immediately after birth. It can be enjoyed throughout your breastfeeding journey, particularly when your baby is unsettled, sleepy or having difficulty feeding.
Your baby's first milk
Colostrum is the thick, concentrated milk produced during the first days after birth. Although it may seem like there is only a small amount, small amounts are exactly what a newborn's stomach needs in the beginning.
Colostrum is rich in:
● Antibodies
● Immune-protective factors
● Protein
● Vitamins and minerals
● Growth factors
It helps provide your newborn with important protection while their immune system is developing.
Did you know?
Colostrum can be yellow, golden, clear or creamy in appearance—and the colour does not determine its quality.