The first few hours after your baby's birth will be an exciting, awesome and exhilarating experience. In these moments, with your baby close to you, all your dreams, hopes and plans come together. Many mothers think that it is best to have the baby few hours after the birth, to be left with them and the mother and baby, undisturbed to be together. I have also known that putting the baby on the mother's body, letting it embrace her/his mother right after birth or after it has been cleaned up, is a comforting way for the baby to feel love for the mother. Do you also believe in these? What are your experiences the first few hours after your babies' births?

My baby was immediately laid on my tummy, then they took her to clean her up. Afterwards they brought her to me to breast feed and afterwards we had a few visitors. It was amazing, marvelous and spectacular. It's also quite amazing how you go from being in so much pain to being happier than you have ever been in your entire life.

It is great, although after my second son I was in shock from the labour for a couple of hours so our bonding started a little late!

My first son got tossed onto my belly directly after coming out because he nearly fell on the floor. Then, because I had myconium (sp?), the first few hours of his external life were spent getting his lungs suctioned out elsewhere. When they finally brought him back to me, I unwrapped him from the baby blanket tortilla and just laid there with him on my chest for an hour with no one else in the room.

With my first daughter they gave her to me right away and it was very nice. I immediately put her to my breast and it was great. With my second daughter I had a c-section. I got a brief glimpse of her and then it was several hours before we were reunited. That was stressful to me. I really wanted her to be with me.

It really feels great to have our baby put in our chest the first time he/she lays eyes on the world. I had a closer relationship with my second baby than the first one. I have learned my lesson to give birth in a hospital that is mother/baby friendly.

With my second son, no one would leave me alone. This one nurse wanted to stand around and ooh and ahh at my new baby. Finally I had to say "Will you please leave, and don't come back for an hour."