This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

The Golden Hour for Moms/Babies

The birth of a baby is an exciting time for new parents and their newborn. As tempting as it is to share the baby’s sex, weight and height with extended family and friends, research shows the first hour after birth, known as “The Golden Hour”, is critical bonding time for a new family.  Silver Cross Hospital’s Women and Infant Services Unit believes this once in a lifetime event should be celebrated and is pleased to offer “The Golden Hour” program, an industry standard best practice, to all newborns and their parents.

 

“Through “The Golden Hour”program, we want to give mom, dad, and baby that first hour together, uninterrupted so they can get to know each other,” said Marilyn Paolella, Director of Women and Infant Services for Silver Cross Hospital. “This special time promotes bonding and is critical for the baby’s ongoing growth and development. And

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

we understand grandparents and other extended family members want to meet the new baby and we encourage them to do so, after the new family is given this “Golden Hour” alone.”

 

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

During “The Golden Hour” important first milestones occur between the members of the new family. In the first hour of a newborn’s life, babies are very alert. They actively search for their mom’s face, listen to her voice and accomplish their first feeding. Also early skin to skin holding occurs within this first hour after birth to help baby adjust to life outside the womb.

 

“Since this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, during skin to skin contact the mother is holding the naked and unswaddled baby belly down directly against her bare chest. Then a blanket is placed over mother and baby,” said Paolella.

 

Benefits to Skin to Skin Holding

“Skin to skin holding” includes many benefits for both baby and parents. This type of holding allows the baby to better adjust to the outside world and helps to stabilize the baby’s temperature, breathing, heart rate and blood sugar. “Skin to skin holding” also strengthens bonding between mother and baby, creates less stress and crying, enhances brain development, stimulates a more successful breastfeeding experience, promotes early stimulation and creates a calming effect during procedures.

 

Parents benefit from “skin to skin holding” their newborn as it increases a feeling of closeness with baby, stimulates mothering instinct, enhances sensitivity and responsiveness, reduces anxiety, builds confidence in infant care, gives a more satisfying experience after delivery, increases milk supply and length of breastfeeding, and reduces bleeding in mother after delivery.

 

New Family Rest Time

Silver Cross’ Women and Infant Services Unit is committed to providing an optimal nurturing experience for parents and their newborn baby. Since research shows that rested parents handle their new babies with more ease, a new Family Rest Time has been implemented at Silver Cross Hospital from 2 to 4 p.m. every day.

 

During Family Rest Time, parents can enjoy quiet time with their new baby. The room lights are dimmed to create a relaxing atmosphere for the new family to rest. Family Rest Time also enhances feeding opportunities with baby and mother.

 

“The purpose of Family Rest Time is to help families create a tranquil environment, so they can continue this healthy routine when they return home with their new baby,” said Paolella.

 

About the Silver Cross Women and Infant Birthing Center

Silver Cross has brought together cutting-edge medical technology with spa-like amenities to make the birthing experience all the more memorable.   The Birthing Center at the New Lenox Hospital has 12 luxurious birthing suites designed for labor, delivery and recovery so parents can have the convenience of staying in the same room through recovery followed by a stay in one of 30 private mother-baby suites.  Each private suite is fully-equipped with a bathroom with a shower and some have an immersion tub to help with labor pains, blanket warmer, refrigerator, wireless internet access, 30” flat screen TV system, and a comfortable sofa-sleeper so family members can stay around the clock. 

 

A variety of pain relief methods is available 24 hours a day provided by an anesthesiologist.  And for deliveries requiring surgery, there are two complete cesarean suites.  Lurie Children’s Hospital neonatologists and pediatric hospitalist is onsite 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And if needed, Lurie Children’s pediatric cardiologists are available to analyze a baby’s echocardiogram in real time through a video linkage with Silver Cross. For more information about the new Silver Cross Women and Infant Birthing Center visit www.silvercross.org/specialdeliveries.  For a referral to an obstetrician/gynecologist or pediatrician on staff at Silver Cross, visit www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL. 

 

About Silver Cross Hospital

Silver Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit health care provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner for seven consecutive years and as a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. With over 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 289-bed acute care hospital and 5 satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. Silver Cross opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital on February 26, 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. In 2013, Silver Cross provided over $48 million in charity care and other community benefits. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, visit http://www.silvercross.org/ or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325). Physicians on Silver Cross Hospital’s Medical Staff have expertise in their areas of practice to meet the needs of patients seeking their care.  These physicians are independent practitioners on the Medical Staff and are not the agents or employees of Silver Cross Hospital. They treat patients based upon their independent medical judgment and they bill patients separately for their services.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?