The Science Behind Baby's First 90 Minutes After Birth
Pregatips | February 4, 2026 7:40 PM CST
Your baby’s first 90 minutes are often called the “golden hour,” but the benefits actually extend beyond the first hour. This early window is filled with remarkable biological processes that help your baby stabilise, feel secure, and begin forming their first emotional connections. During this period, your baby learns to breathe independently, regulate their temperature, recognise your scent, respond to touch, and begin their feeding journey. These small changes help your child grow up healthy and lay the groundwork for early bonding. If problems come up, the healthcare teams are ready to help your baby make the switch safely.
As soon as you put your baby on your chest after birth, their body starts to respond to your warmth, sound, and presence. Their heart rate steadies, their breathing gets easier, and they feel less stressed. Your baby knows rhythms from the womb, like your heartbeat and natural scent. These things help them adjust to the outside world more easily. This early contact also helps with breastfeeding, emotional bonding, and a stronger sense of safety. If your baby appears to be in pain, the medical staff will act quickly to ensure your baby is safe and comfortable.
Babies' Movement From the Womb to the World
As soon as your baby is born, they leave the warm, fluid-filled womb and enter a world full of air, sound, and touch. Their body begins to take over functions that the placenta previously supported. It is how their body changes:
The Importance of Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact
Touching your baby's skin is a great way to make them feel safe and comforted in the first 90 minutes. When your baby lies on your chest, they feel safe and warm, which helps their body stay stable. It is how skin-to-skin contact helps during this early time:
Babies are born ready to connect, and their senses quickly awaken, helping them feel secure and confident. Here’s how their senses respond in the first hour:
Babies have natural reflexes that help them begin breastfeeding or feeding soon after birth. These reflexes are strongest during the first 90 minutes. This is how these reflexes help with feeding:
Bonding does not happen in one moment in the first hour and a half, but on a strong foundation. Your baby learns that you are their source of comfort, nourishment, and safety. Here’s how bonding develops during this period:
Importance of Calm & Quiet Places After Birth
During the first 90 minutes, babies are very sensitive. A calm, peaceful place makes them feel safe and at ease as they get used to their new home. Here's how a quiet environment helps your baby:
The first 90 minutes are more than a moment of bonding—they support long-term emotional and physical health. These early interactions support brain development and early sensory learning. Here are the early moments that shape the future:
What Parents Can Do in the First 90 Minutes
This time is more natural and gentle than a strict schedule. The most important things are that you are present and comfortable. Here are some natural ways you can help your baby:
The first 90 minutes after birth are a wonderful mix of biology, bonding, and emotions. Your baby learns how to breathe, stabilise, feel you, and start eating during this time. These times provide your baby with comfort, safety, and a sense of familiarity, helping them transition from the womb to the outside world smoothly.
You can help your baby feel safe and grounded during this critical time by holding them close, keeping them warm, and maintaining a calm environment. Every breath, touch, and heartbeat you share with your baby in these early moments is integral to their first experience of love and belonging.
Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.
FAQs on The Science Behind Baby’s First 90 Minutes After Birth
What makes the first 90 minutes so crucial for a baby?
The first 90 minutes help your baby get used to breathing, regulate their body temperature, bond with you, and begin to feel hungry.
Is it important to touch the baby's skin right after birth?
Skin-to-skin contact helps keep the baby warm, strengthens the emotional bond, and encourages early feeding, making it a beneficial practice.
Do all babies eat during the golden hour?
Many babies start exhibiting signs of hunger, but at their own pace. Comfort, calmness, and closeness are more important than timing.
As soon as you put your baby on your chest after birth, their body starts to respond to your warmth, sound, and presence. Their heart rate steadies, their breathing gets easier, and they feel less stressed. Your baby knows rhythms from the womb, like your heartbeat and natural scent. These things help them adjust to the outside world more easily. This early contact also helps with breastfeeding, emotional bonding, and a stronger sense of safety. If your baby appears to be in pain, the medical staff will act quickly to ensure your baby is safe and comfortable.
Babies' Movement From the Womb to the World
As soon as your baby is born, they leave the warm, fluid-filled womb and enter a world full of air, sound, and touch. Their body begins to take over functions that the placenta previously supported. It is how their body changes:
- Your baby starts breathing on their own as their lungs expand with the first breath, which helps oxygen flow through their body.
- Your baby’s circulation changes, allowing blood to shift from the placenta to their own heart and lungs.
- Your baby begins adjusting to room temperature, a significant sensory change after the womb's warmth.
The Importance of Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact
Touching your baby's skin is a great way to make them feel safe and comforted in the first 90 minutes. When your baby lies on your chest, they feel safe and warm, which helps their body stay stable. It is how skin-to-skin contact helps during this early time:
- Your body naturally warms or cools your baby as needed, helping their temperature stabilise more quickly.
- The familiar rhythms help stabilise your baby's heart rate and breathing.
- Your baby's stress levels go down because your touch and smell make them feel safe and close.
Babies are born ready to connect, and their senses quickly awaken, helping them feel secure and confident. Here’s how their senses respond in the first hour:
- Your baby recognises your scent, which guides them towards your chest for feeding.
- Your baby responds to the sound of your voice, which they remember from the womb.
- During quiet moments, your baby opens their eyes to look at your face, forming early visual memories.
Babies have natural reflexes that help them begin breastfeeding or feeding soon after birth. These reflexes are strongest during the first 90 minutes. This is how these reflexes help with feeding:
- When your baby smells or feels warmth, they will turn their head toward your chest due to their rooting reflex.
- Your baby makes little mouth movements as they get ready to latch on.
- During skin-to-skin contact, your baby may instinctively crawl slowly toward your breast by smell.
Bonding does not happen in one moment in the first hour and a half, but on a strong foundation. Your baby learns that you are their source of comfort, nourishment, and safety. Here’s how bonding develops during this period:
- Your baby begins recognising your touch as their safe place, which helps build early trust.
- Your baby can hear your voice and heartbeat, which helps them feel close to you.
Importance of Calm & Quiet Places After Birth
During the first 90 minutes, babies are very sensitive. A calm, peaceful place makes them feel safe and at ease as they get used to their new home. Here's how a quiet environment helps your baby:
- Your baby feels less stressed when the environment is dim, calm, and gentle.
- Your baby can focus on bonding and feeding without sudden noises or bright lights.
- Your baby transitions more smoothly because their senses are not overloaded.
The first 90 minutes are more than a moment of bonding—they support long-term emotional and physical health. These early interactions support brain development and early sensory learning. Here are the early moments that shape the future:
- Your baby develops stronger neural connections when they experience loving touch and emotional comfort.
- Your baby becomes more responsive to feeding because early reflexes are reinforced during skin-to-skin contact.
What Parents Can Do in the First 90 Minutes
This time is more natural and gentle than a strict schedule. The most important things are that you are present and comfortable. Here are some natural ways you can help your baby:
- You can give your baby warmth and a familiar heartbeat by holding them against your chest.
- Whispering to your baby can help them recognise your voice and feel safe.
- You can let your baby explore their reflexes and find their own way to eat.
- You can enjoy the quiet closeness of the moment without any distractions or need to hurry.
The first 90 minutes after birth are a wonderful mix of biology, bonding, and emotions. Your baby learns how to breathe, stabilise, feel you, and start eating during this time. These times provide your baby with comfort, safety, and a sense of familiarity, helping them transition from the womb to the outside world smoothly.
You can help your baby feel safe and grounded during this critical time by holding them close, keeping them warm, and maintaining a calm environment. Every breath, touch, and heartbeat you share with your baby in these early moments is integral to their first experience of love and belonging.
Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.
FAQs on The Science Behind Baby’s First 90 Minutes After Birth
The first 90 minutes help your baby get used to breathing, regulate their body temperature, bond with you, and begin to feel hungry.
Skin-to-skin contact helps keep the baby warm, strengthens the emotional bond, and encourages early feeding, making it a beneficial practice.
Many babies start exhibiting signs of hunger, but at their own pace. Comfort, calmness, and closeness are more important than timing.
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