In the first hour or two after birth, most babies are in an alert, wide awake phase. This offers a wonderful opportunity for parents to get to know their new baby. A baby will often turn to the familiar sound of the mother's voice. A baby's focus of vision is best at about 8 to 12 inches - just the distance from the baby cradled in a mother's arms to her face. During this first hour or two after birth is also the best time to begin breastfeeding.
Babies have an innate ability to begin nursing immediately after they are born.
Although some medications and anesthesia given to the mother during labor and delivery may affect the baby's sucking ability, most healthy babies are able to breastfeed in these first few hours. This initial feeding helps stimulate breast milk production. It also causes contraction of the mother's uterus which can help prevent excessive bleeding. Only in rare situations will a mother require general anesthesia for delivery. This means she is not conscious for the birth.