There are so many articles and posts out there on how to create more breast milk using herbs, foods, and different supplements. But what if you didn’t need that and you could set yourself up from the get go. You could have that strong milk supply you need to nourish your baby all from a couple hours of cuddling.
The Golden Hour
The golden hour is the first hour after birth where you get the chance to bond with your baby. Baby is placed on the chest (skin to skin) and it is recommended they stay there until the finished with the first breastfeeding. This contact calms both you and your baby, stabilizes baby’s temperature, breathing , and heart rate. This will make your baby feel safe in their new world and prepare them for feeding.
I am going to break it down for you on how this skin to skin contact will make your milk supply stronger.
Oxytocin & Prolactin
The hormone oxytocin also known as the love hormone or cuddle hormone. In this case that makes perfects sense right? The skin to skin involves touch, warmth and scent, all being powerful stimulants for releasing oxytocin. In breastfeeding oxytocin is responsible for the milk ejection reflex or the “Let Down”
Near the end of a mothers pregnancy her oxytocin receptors are multiplied allowing her to be more responsive to the presence of oxytocin. The receptors in crease in the part of her brain that promote maternal behavior.
A woman gets her first surge of oxytocin during labor. the high levels of it cause mama to become familiar with the unique scent of her baby.
The baby is already imprinted on the smell of their amniotic fluid. Believe it or not our nipples have the same odor as the babies amniotic fluid. This helps the baby to find the nipple and where you hear the term breast crawl. They automatically know to crawl towards that scent.
Persistent regular body contact (skin to skin) will produce constant elevated levels of oxytocin. Nursing during the Golden Hour after labor sends another surge of oxytocin which also helps the uterus to contract and return to its size.
The other important breastfeeding hormone is Prolactin and skin to skin contact creates more of this in mama.Prolactin hormones primary function is producing more milk. It is stimulated by the baby sucking. More breast stimulation = more milk.
With out Skin to Skin breastfeeding can be more difficult.
Mama’s who postpone nursing and skin to skin lose part of that ultimate hormone high that occurs after birth. I’m not saying they won’t be able to breastfeed. She is still totally capable, but It might be harder. The body will still produce the hormones needed, but she missed out on those surges being released and that first bonding moment where all that oxytocin kicked on her maternal instincts. Thats what they are there for. Natures design is crazy awesome.
In no way am I saying you will be less of a mother if you do not breastfeed or have skin to skin. There are many women who are not able to breast feed such as breast cancer survivors. That does not make them any less of a mother.You can still have skin to skin after cesarean as well and it is very beneficial for premature babies. Do what you believe is right for you and your baby.
There is no recommended time to stop skin to skin. There are many benefits continuing it, especially within the first few weeks. Ask your hospital what their policies are after birth and allowing time for skin to skin. You will want to include it on your birth plan if it is not something they routinely do.
