What Happens Right After Birth? Preparing for the First Hours in a Hospital Birth
You did it. You birthed your baby. You’ve crossed the finish line—and now it’s just cuddles and magic and maybe a tearful “we did it” moment… right?
Yes—and no.
While meeting your baby is absolutely magical, the minutes and hours immediately after birth can be surprisingly busy and clinical in a hospital setting. Many birthing people are shocked by how quickly the room shifts—from focused, dim, quiet labor support to bright lights, extra staff, rapid assessments, and multiple things happening at once.
Understanding what’s normal, what’s optional, and what can be delayed can help you and your partner stay grounded and present in this sacred window of time.
The Golden Hour… with a Bit of Hustle
The first hour or two after your baby is born is sometimes called “The Golden Hour”—a time meant for uninterrupted bonding, skin-to-skin contact, and initiation of breastfeeding.
But it’s also a time when a lot of medical activity happens—some essential, some routine, and some optional.
Here’s what to expect, and how to create a calmer, more connected experience even in a hospital setting.
Right After Birth: What’s Happening?
1. Delivering the Placenta
You’ll continue to experience mild contractions as your body delivers the placenta, usually within 5–30 minutes after birth. This is the third stage of labor.
You may be offered Pitocin (oxytocin) via IV or injection to help the uterus contract and prevent excessive bleeding. While this is routine, it can be delayed or declined if your bleeding is normal and you prefer to wait for your body to expel the placenta naturally.
You can also request delayed cord clamping (typically 1–5 minutes or more), which improves baby’s iron stores and oxygenation.
Tip: Include your preferences for placenta delivery and Pitocin in your birth plan. Many providers are flexible if bleeding is minimal.
2. Fundal Massages (a.k.a. Uterine “Checks”)
Shortly after birth—and at intervals over the next couple of hours—your nurse will perform fundal massages. Despite the name, they are not relaxing.
This involves pressing firmly on your belly to feel the top of your uterus (“the fundus”) to make sure it’s contracting and not filling with blood.
It can feel uncomfortable or even painful, especially if you’re already sensitive after birth.
These checks are usually done every 15 minutes in the first hour, then less frequently after that.
Ask for consent before each check. You can also ask for a warning, to be talked through it, or to take a few deep breaths before it begins.
3. Tearing, Repair, and Stitches
If you experience perineal tearing (or receive an episiotomy), your provider will assess the extent and begin repair shortly after the placenta is delivered.
You may receive local anesthetic (like lidocaine) even if you had an epidural.
Dissolvable stitches (sutures) are typically used and do not need to be removed.
This process can take anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes, depending on the extent of the tear.
You can hold your baby skin-to-skin during this, and your partner can stay close for support.
You always have the right to know what degree of tear you have, ask what tools they’re using, and pause to take a breath or ask questions.
4. Newborn Assessments & Procedures
Most hospitals follow standard procedures within the first hour, though you have options to delay or decline.
Typical procedures include:
APGAR scores at 1 and 5 minutes (done quietly while baby is on your chest)
Vitamin K injection (to help blood clotting)
Erythromycin eye ointment (to prevent infection)
Weight, measurements, and footprinting
Hepatitis B vaccine (may be offered before discharge if not given at birth)
If you prefer to delay some or all of these procedures until after your golden hour, write it into your birth plan. Most hospitals will accommodate these wishes with informed consent.
5. Environmental Changes
Right after birth, it’s common for the room to suddenly:
Get brighter (especially during the placenta delivery or repair)
Fill with more people (nurses, pediatric team, even cleaning staff)
Shift from calm to clinical
But you can absolutely reclaim the space.
Ways to preserve a calm, connected environment:
Ask staff to keep lights dim, unless necessary for repair or safety
Use a warm blanket over you and baby during skin-to-skin
Play soft music or white noise
Place a sign on the door: “Quiet bonding time in progress”
How Long Do You Stay in the Labor Room?
After birth, you’ll typically remain in your labor and delivery room for 1 to 2 hours before being transferred to a postpartum recovery room.
This time is used to:
Monitor your bleeding and vital signs
Support baby’s first feeding (breast or bottle)
Help you urinate (which is often required before transfer)
Allow bonding and cuddling
You can use this time to request:
Privacy and minimal interruptions
Delayed newborn procedures until you’re ready
Lactation support or help with the first latch
How to Advocate for a Gentle First Hour
Here’s how you can plan ahead to create a supported, empowered transition after birth:
1. Prepare your birth plan to include:
Delay Pitocin unless bleeding is heavy
Delay or decline newborn procedures (vitamin K, eye ointment, etc.)
No bright lights or minimal interruptions for the first hour
Ask for consent before every fundal massage or procedure
Skin-to-skin and breastfeeding support immediately after birth
2. Ask your doula or partner to:
Speak up about your preferences if the room gets busy
Keep the lights low and music going
Gently advocate for your boundaries while you bond with baby
3. Focus on your breath.
The moment your baby is born, a lot may shift around you—but you can stay grounded in your body. Breathe slowly, tune into your baby’s scent and warmth, and take it all in.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve a Sacred Transition
Birth is an incredible threshold, and your first hours with your baby matter deeply. While hospitals often focus on clinical tasks, you have the right to slow things down, ask questions, and create a space that honors your transition into parenthood.
This time is for you, too—not just the baby.
