Pregnancy 101: The Magic Hour

While at first glance, The Magic Hour may sound like some kind of show you would watch at midnight in a Las Vegas lounge, the magic hour is actually considered to be one of the most important parts of the birthing process.

The Magic Hour is a term used to describe the importance of the first hour following birth for the bonding between mother and child. This term was originally coined by Ann-Marie Widström, Lars Ake Hanson and Kajsa Brimdyr, three Swedish doctors that have often been described as “Baby Whisperers”. The magic hour has been used as a way to describe the importance of skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her child as quickly after birth as possible.

Scientific research has strongly emphasised the importance of skin-to-skin contact during the magic hour and has even found that a baby’s behaviour during this ‘magic hour’ fulfills his/her basic biological needs for survival and helps to program their brain and even future behaviour. These studies have shown that this contact reduces crying, improves mother-baby interaction, keeps the baby warmer and helps women to breastfeed successfully.

While the magic hour is considered to be crucial for the health and development of the child, it is important to remember that this is also a monumental experience for every mother. This moment is the first time she sees the person she has been caring for in the last 9 months, and so this experience is irreplaceable. Make sure you take your time, celebrate the massive achievement you have just completed and enjoy those first precious moments together.