Nature’s Perfect Start: The Golden Hour & Breast Crawl

Everything written in this blog MUST be discussed with your doctor and midwife to ensure it aligns with your specific birth plan and medical circumstances

Through my maternity nurse training, I’ve come to appreciate the incredible wisdom of nature in guiding a newborn’s transition into the world. One of the most fascinating discoveries has been the breast crawl, also known as the golden hour—the first uninterrupted hour after birth when a baby instinctively seeks out the mother’s breast.

What is the Breast Crawl?

Golden Hour / Breast Crawl

The breast crawl is a natural, instinctive process where a newborn, when placed on the mother’s chest immediately after birth, begins to move toward the breast and latch on without assistance. It’s a built-in survival mechanism, and when given the chance, babies are born knowing exactly what to do. They:

• Recognize their mother’s scent and warmth.

• Use their limbs to push themselves toward the breast.

• Follow the darker color of the areola as a visual guide.

• Self-latch when given time and an undisturbed environment.

This process helps stabilize the baby’s heart rate, breathing, and body temperature while also stimulating the mother’s milk production and deepening the early bond between them.

Including the Breast Crawl in Your Birth Plan

This incredible start to life is something that can be planned for. If birth circumstances allow, the breast crawl can be included in your birth plan, ensuring that your baby has the opportunity to follow their natural instincts. It’s important to communicate this preference with your birth team in advance so that the first hour after birth is as uninterrupted as possible.

Patience is essential—this process can take anywhere from 12 to 20 minutes to even an hour. Every baby moves at their own pace, and allowing them to take their time is key to letting their instincts fully activate.

What If Birth Doesn’t Go as Planned?

Skin To Skin

Image by Tamara Kublashvili Photography

Birth can be unpredictable, and sometimes medical interventions mean that immediate skin-to-skin isn’t possible. However, what I found particularly fascinating in my training is that the breast crawl can be recreated later. Even if hours or days have passed, simply placing your baby skin-to-skin and allowing them to find their way to the breast can still trigger these natural instincts. Consult your midwife or a maternity nurse for more detailed suggestion on how to do it.

C Section

Why It Matters

Research shows that babies who are given the opportunity to follow nature’s design—when circumstances allow—often experience:

• Better breastfeeding success rates.

• More stable body temperature and vital signs.

• Reduced stress and increased relaxation.

• A deeper bond with their mother.

Of course, there are situations where the golden hour isn’t possible, like in my case where we had a scheduled C-section and that’s completely okay. What matters most, is a safe and loving environment for both baby and mother. But if the opportunity presents itself, allowing the breast crawl to happen—even later—gives your baby an incredible start.

Little Details

Image by Tamara Kublashvili Photography

By trusting in this natural process, you’re not only supporting your baby’s instincts from the very beginning but also setting the foundation for the journey ahead as a family—allowing them to navigate life with the same resilience and determination that guided them in their very first hour.