Midwives’ experience of promoting the ‘golden hour’ after a normal vaginal delivery

Abstract

Background and aims: The ‘golden hour’ (GH) is the first hour following the birth of a baby, and it is a crucial time for the wellbeing of both the mother and her baby. This study aimed to understand midwives’ experiences of promoting the GH after a normal vaginal delivery (NVD). Its objectives were threefold: exploring what facilitates the GH; exploring any barriers that might hinder the GH; and understanding midwives’ perceptions of the benefits of the GH. Methods: A qualitative approach was used to explore the experiences of eight midwives who worked at the central delivery suite (CDS) at the local general hospital, recruited by convenience sampling via an intermediary. The data were collected through a one-time, face-to-face interview, using a self-designed, semi-structured interview schedule. The data were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was undertaken. Findings: This study revealed that all the participants were aware of the practice and benefits of the GH. It transpired that the parents’ willingness, and the midwife herself, both contribute to the promotion of the GH. However, the study recognised various barriers that hinder the practice of the GH, such as emergencies, a cluttered and hectic environment, the medicalisation of birth, and the current COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, participant midwives established possible improvement strategies to better their practice of promoting the GH. Conclusion: The GH provides midwives with a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment, while also being beneficial for the father by facilitating bonding time with the baby. From this study, it was evident that all the participant midwives acknowledged the importance of the GH, as they talked about doing their utmost to promote it. However, the midwives also revealed the need for additional training and feedback sessions to further enhance their knowledge, and ultimately improve their practice of promoting the GH.