The hours after birth are often described as magical, and of course they can be. But they can also feel overwhelming, surreal, emotional or like a blur.
What many mothers don’t realise is that recovery begins straight away. Not when you get home, or after you’ve slept.
It starts in those first moments after birth, while you’re holding your baby close and feeling the huge relief that you’ve done it. You’ve birthed a baby, no matter which way they entered the world.
Every woman’s experience is different and there is no right or wrong way for these hours to unfold. But understanding what your body is doing, and what your baby is adjusting to, can bring calm and confidence at a time that often feels unknown.
The Golden Hour… and Why It Doesn’t Need to End
You may have heard of the term ‘the golden hour’, the first hour after birth when baby lies on your chest, skin to skin. But the truth is that this special window of bonding doesn’t end at 60 minutes.
It can continue for hours, the whole day and even weeks if it feels right for you. There’s no rush to dress your baby or place them in a cot. No rush to be checked over by the Midwife. No rush to do anything, really!
Your baby has spent months growing with you, curled up in a warm, secure and noisy environment, feeling your heartbeat, your movement and knowing your smell. They’ve been with you always and so staying skin-to-skin helps them feel safe, secure and calm as they adapt to life outside the womb. It helps regulate their heart rate, temperature and breathing and also supports their immune system and microbiome… But it also helps you feel grounded too.
Oxytocin: Your Healing Hormone
When your baby lies on your chest skin to skin, your body releases oxytocin, the hormone that supports the mother-baby bond and helps initiate your body’s healing process. Oxytocin is responsible for:
• Encouraging the uterus to contract
• Helping to reduce bleeding
• Creating feelings of calm and connection
• Supporting early milk production for those who choose to breastfeed or express milk.
One of the simplest ways to increase oxytocin is to breathe in your baby’s scent. It often happens without thinking, and with their smell being naturally soothing, your body responds instantly.
Why No Hat?
You may hear that baby needs a hat to stay warm, and in some cases that may be needed, but when they are skin-to-skin, you become their temperature regulator, keeping them warm and feeling safe. Keeping their head uncovered allows that beautiful scent-based bonding to happen naturally.
This extended golden hour is one of the most protective parts of early postpartum recovery. It can feel calming and encourages rest and relaxation, giving your body the quietness and time it needs to heal.
Your Nervous System Is Recovering Too
Birth can be physically and emotionally intense, and straight afterwards your body really needs time to settle. Your nervous system is shifting from the adrenaline of labour into a calmer, more settled state. Slow, gentle abdominal breathing can help this transition.
Think: breathe in… and breathe out even slower.
This kind of breathing can help:
• Reduce full body shaking (which is very normal after birth)
• Bring oxygen back into tired muscles
• Calm a racing and anxious heart
• Support your uterus as it begins contracting
• Help you feel steady and safe
Your newborn can’t yet regulate their emotions, so they follow your lead. You help regulate them, so when you breathe slowly, each slow, gentle exhale helps you both to feel safe and calm.
Your Body Begins Healing Immediately
Many mothers imagine their healing begins once they’re home. But your body really does get to work straight away.
Bleeding (Lochia): It’s normal for bleeding to feel heavy immediately after birth, but it does reduce with time. Moving, feeding or shifting positions can make it briefly increase, but this is usually completely normal. After birth, the uterus is doing its job by contracting firmly to minimise bleeding. Knowing this prevents unnecessary worry at a time when everything feels new.
Afterpains: Afterpains can be surprisingly strong, especially if this isn’t your first baby. They often feel like period cramps and are your uterus shrinking back to size. They can become more noticeable during feeding because of the oxytocin released. Although uncomfortable, they are a sign of healthy healing.
Perineal or Abdominal Sensations: Whether you’ve had a vaginal birth, stitches or a caesarean, your body immediately starts to repair damaged tissue and begin the recovery process. The first stage wound healing is inflammation, so you may notice a feeling of heaviness, tenderness or warmth, all of which are common early sensations.
Food and Hydration: The Healing Foundations
It’s easy to overlook eating and drinking in the whirlwind of the first hours. But your body has used a huge amount of energy and nourishing yourself now can support your healing over the days to come. Warm, soft, nourishing foods are especially helpful because they’re easy to digest and gentle on your system.
Options include:
• Oats or porridge
• Soups or broths
• Stewed fruits
• Slow-cooked meals
• Iron-rich foods such as beans, spinach or meat
Hydration is just as important. Water, herbal teas or electrolytes can help replenish you, especially after a long labour or birth. Eating is not optional, it’s a huge part of your recovery.
All of Your Emotions Are Valid
The early hours after birth can bring an emotional mix that surprises many mothers. You might feel:
• Joy
• Relief
• Shock
• Detachment
• Exhaustion
• Overwhelm
• A deep sense of peace
• Or nothing at all
Every feeling is absolutely valid. In the movies we see that instant, powerful bond but in real life it can unfold slowly and gently. Some mothers feel deeply connected right away. Others grow into that feeling over days or weeks.
A delayed bond does not mean anything is wrong and it does not define your relationship with your baby. You are both meeting for the first time and remember; every relationship takes time.
Understanding Your Baby’s First Hours Helps Yours
Your newborn is making enormous physiological changes in their first hours, shifting from placental support to breathing on their own, regulating their temperature, adjusting their circulation, and managing their own blood sugar for the very first time. These changes are easier when they’re held close. Your warmth steadies their temperature, your scent lowers their stress hormones, and your heartbeat helps regulate their breathing and nervous system.
Feeding in these early hours is usually little and often; their tummy is tiny, and the birth process can make them tired or slow to start. They may show instinctive cues like rooting, lip-licking, turning their head, but they’re still learning, just as you are.
Most newborns don’t want to be put down because being with you feels safest as their body and brain adjust. Understanding this physiology helps ease pressure, they’re not forming habits; they’re finding safety and you are very much central to that transition.
Building the First Hours: Connection, Recovery and Foundations
As your baby begins adjusting to life outside the womb, your recovery is already underway too. Your hormones are taking a huge shift, your uterus is contracting, and your body is starting the work of healing. You don’t need to do anything special, but rest and closeness with your baby supports this naturally.
These hours also help your new family find its rhythm. Whether you’re with a partner or on your own, this quiet time gives everyone a chance to settle, understand each other and take things slowly. No visitors, no pressure and certainly no expectations.
Your baby feels safest in your arms, and you learn what they need by watching them. It’s also a time when your partner learns how to support you, with practical help, protection from interruptions and gentle reassurance.
This isn’t about perfect bonding or getting everything right. It’s about starting gently: skin-to-skin, small feeds, warm contact, and time to take in what you’ve just done. These foundations will support your recovery, your confidence, and your connection as a family in the days ahead.
