The First Hour after Birth: A Baby’s 9 Instinctive Stages
So much effort is devoted to preparing for labor and birth throughout pregnancy, but what happens after the baby is born?! One minute, your baby was in your womb, and the next, you deliver him/her Earth-side. I sure felt like it was a shock.
Did you know your baby is primed for 9 stages of activity and rest during the first hour of life outside the womb? Kajsa Brimdyr, PhD, CLC of the Healthy Childrens Project extensively researched this unique period of time of the immediate postpartum, and when left undisturbed, babies will move though these stages.
Here is an abbreviated guide explaining what happens during the first hour for baby as she/he transitions from intrauterine to extrauterine life, which is based on the work of Dr. Brimdyr. After each stage is explained, I will offer my own observations and experiences.
The first hours after birth are a developmentally unique time for you baby and there are well documented short and long term physical and psychological advantages when a baby is held skin-to-skin. When a baby is in skin-to-skin contact after birth there are nine observable newborn stages, happening in a rhythmic order, that are innate and instinctive for the baby. Within each of these stages, there are a variety of actions a baby may demonstrate. The baby may do one, some or all of these actions:
Stage 1: The Birth Cry
The first stage is the birth cry. This distinctive cry occurs immediately after birth as the baby clears its lungs of fluid and takes its first expansive breaths.
Most babies are born vigorous and belting a strong, lusty cry. As explained above, crying is a normal and reassuring behavior. I remember feeling immense relief and joy hearing my baby’s first cry.
Stage 2: Relaxation
The second stage is the relaxation stage. During the relaxation stage, the newborn exhibits no mouth movements and the hands are relaxed. This stage usually begins when the birth cry has stopped. The baby is skin-to-skin on the mother, either covered with a warm, dry towel or blanket, or in a warm birth tub.
During this stage I felt like I was finally meeting my baby. I got to look at the genital region and discover the sex! Girl!
Stage 3: Awakening
The third stage is the awakening stage. During this stage the newborn exhibits small thrusts of movement in the head and shoulders. This stage usually beings about 3 minutes after birth. The newborn in the awakening stage may exhibit head movements, open his eyes, how some mouth activity and might move his shoulders.
I vividly recall this stage. Fiona was relaxed and absorbing her new surroundings. Gazing and holding each other’s eyes was immediately bonding.
Stage 4: Activity
The fourth stage is the activity stage. During this stage, the newborn begins to make increased mouthing and sucking movements as the rooting reflex becomes more obvious. This stage usually begins about 8 minutes after birth.
During the activity stage, the newborn could:
- Keep eyes open
- Look at the breast
- Salivate to the point of dampening the mother’s skin
- Root by moving his or her mouth from side to side over the skin by rubbing the cheek against the mother’s chest
- Move his or her hand to the mouth
- Move his or her hand to the mother’s breast and back to the mouth
- Protrude the tongue
- Look at his or her mother (although some babies may not do this until a later stage)
- Exhibit high rooting (rooting that includes lifting part of the baby’s torso from the mother’s chest
This was my favorite stage to observe. Fiona literally crawled up my chest while exhibiting high rooting behaviors. She needed some help latching on to my breast, and I recall realizing that while breastfeeding is instinctual, the mechanics of feeding are not always innate and easy!
Stage 5: Rest
At any point, the baby may rest. The baby may have periods of resting between periods of activity throughout the first hour or so after birth.
After Fiona used a lot of energy exploring breastfeeding, she tired of trying and took a rest
Stage 6: Crawling
The sixth stage is the crawling stage. The baby approaches the breast during this stage with short periods of action that result in reaching the breast in nipple. This stage usually begin about 35 minutes after birth
The crawling stage does not need to involve “crawling.” It could be accomplished through leaping, sliding (sometimes in conjunction with rooting and questing), or crawling (sometimes in conjunction with pushing and rooting).
As I mentioned above, Fiona did this in an earlier stage. However, after resting, she was right back at it!
Stage 7: Familiarization
The seventh stage is called familiarization. During this stage, the newborn becomes acquainted with the mother by licking the nipple and touching and massaging her breast. This stage usually beings around 45 minutes after birth and could last for 30 minutes or more.
During the familiarization stage, the baby may touch the mother’s breast, may mouth on his or her own hand, lick the mother’s breast, look at the mother, make communicative sounds to draw in the mother’s attention, mouth the nipple, lick the nipple, move his or her hand from his or her mouth to the mother’s breast, protrude the tongue, look at toher people in the room, or massage his or her mother’s breast.
As Fiona familiarized herself further with breastfeeding, I recall her sweet cooing and and the way she kneaded my breasts.
Stage 8: Suckling
The either stage is suckling. During this stage, the newborn takes the nipple, self attaches and suckles. This early experience of learning to breastfeed usually begins about an hour after birth. If the mother had had analgesia/anesthesia during labor, it may take more time with skin-to-skin for the baby to complete the stage and begin suckling.
Fiona had a mild degree of torticollis, meaning she had a preference to turn her head to one side due to stiffness in hear neck and head. This made it difficult for her to learn to latch at this point. We remained skin-to-skin, and we continued to familiarize with each other.
Stage 9: Sleep
The final stage is sleep. The by and sometimes the mother fall into a restful sleep. Baby usually falls asleep about 1 ½ to 2 hours after birth.
During my pregnancy, this was the stage I told myself I would sleep. However, I was too jazzed up and excited to sleep! I could keep my eyes off her. However, if you can sleep, I highly recommend it.
This post is adapted from the work of
Kajsa Brimdyr, PhD, CLC
Healthy Children Project
