The first latch is not an exam and not a race. In the first hours after birth a baby’s search reflex is strong: they show when they are ready to take the breast. The adults’ job is not to interfere and to help with positioning: the mother leans back comfortably, the baby lies tummy to tummy on her, the head is slightly tilted back and the chin presses into the breast.
Skin-to-skin contact in the first hour helps both lactation and the baby: breathing and temperature stabilise and the transition from the womb is calmer. If the birth was difficult or the mother is exhausted, contact can continue later with a partner’s support — time works for us here, not against us.
What to check in the delivery room: is the mouth wide open, is the lower lip flanged out, is more areola visible above than below, is there any pain while feeding. These four signs matter more than any stopwatch: they show the latch is deep and milk will come in.