5 Benefits of Waiting to Labor Naturally

A faith-based and biological look at how beautifully your body was designed for birth

In today’s world of scheduling and convenience, it’s easy to want to plan every detail of birth — even when it begins. But God, in His divine wisdom, created a process that is far more precise and purposeful than we often realize.

Waiting for labor to start naturally allows your body and baby to complete a sequence of biological events that prepare both of you for a safer, smoother, and more sacred transition into birth.

Let’s look at five powerful, evidence-based reasons why waiting for natural labor truly honors the way God designed you.

1. Your Baby Signals When It’s Time

As pregnancy nears its end, a beautiful collaboration begins between you and your baby.

Research shows that your baby’s lungs release a protein—called surfactant protein A (SP-A)—when they are fully mature. This protein sends a chemical message to your uterus through your bloodstream, triggering the hormonal cascade that starts labor.

In other words, your baby helps start labor when they are ready to breathe on their own.

By waiting for spontaneous labor, you’re allowing this natural signal to occur—ensuring your baby’s lungs, brain, and body are fully prepared for life outside the womb.

Every contraction, every moment of waiting is purposeful and divinely timed.

2. Your Hormones Work in Perfect Harmony

When labor begins on its own, your body releases a precise, God-orchestrated blend of hormones that guide the entire process. These hormones include:

• Oxytocin – The “love hormone” that triggers contractions, reduces fear, and promotes bonding.

• Beta-endorphins – Natural pain relievers that help you stay calm and centered.

• Catecholamines (adrenaline & noradrenaline) – Give energy and focus during pushing.

• Prolactin – Prepares your breasts for feeding and helps initiate maternal instincts.

When labor is induced artificially, these hormonal balances are often disrupted, leading to stronger contractions, more pain, and sometimes a longer recovery.

Your body was designed with a hormonal rhythm that supports both comfort and safety. When left to unfold naturally, labor is often more efficient and emotionally grounding.

3. Natural Labor Strengthens Bonding and Recovery

Oxytocin doesn’t just cause contractions—it’s also the hormone of love, trust, and connection.

Spontaneous labor triggers higher, steadier oxytocin levels, which help:

• Deepen bonding with your baby after birth

• Support breastfeeding (oxytocin causes milk let-down)

• Reduce postpartum bleeding by helping the uterus contract

A 2020 study in Frontiers in Endocrinology found that women who experienced spontaneous labor had higher oxytocin and beta-endorphin levels during birth—creating a calmer, more emotionally positive experience.

When your body leads the process, both mother and baby are enveloped in the natural hormones designed for bonding and healing.

4. Lower Risk of Complications and Interventions

Inducing labor before the body is ready can increase the risk of:

• Cesarean section

• Fetal distress

• Longer and more painful contractions

• Use of epidural or Pitocin augmentation

According to the Cochrane Review, women who go into labor naturally are 26% less likely to require a C-section than those who are induced.

Waiting for your body to start labor naturally helps your cervix soften (ripen) and dilate at its own pace. This gradual change allows your baby to move into the best position for birth—making delivery safer for both of you.

Your body was never meant to be rushed; it was designed for balance, safety, and rhythm.

5. Better Outcomes for Baby

Every extra day in the womb—especially between 37 and 40 weeks—matters for your baby’s growth and readiness.

Babies born after spontaneous labor:

• Have stronger lungs and better oxygen transition

• Regulate their body temperature more effectively

• Are less likely to need NICU care

• Show more stable blood sugar levels after birth

Research from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) shows that early elective induction (before 39 weeks) doubles the risk of NICU admission.

When you allow labor to start naturally, you’re honoring the biological wisdom built into creation itself—your baby knows when the time is right.

The Spiritual Side of Waiting

Waiting can be hard—especially at the end of pregnancy when your body is tired and your heart is ready. But this season of waiting is not wasted.

It’s preparation. It’s trust. It’s surrender.

God designed labor as a process of partnership between you, your baby, and Him. Each day that passes brings you closer not just to birth, but to a divine moment of meeting your child at exactly the right time.

Final Thoughts

Waiting to labor naturally isn’t just a preference—it’s a profound act of trust in the intricate, biological, and spiritual design God placed within you.

By allowing your body and baby to lead, you’re:

• Supporting full fetal development

• Reducing risks and interventions

• Enhancing bonding

• Encouraging hormonal balance

• Honoring God’s perfect timing

Inspired by @Dr.Billchun’s recent discussion on the benefits of natural labor, I wanted to share a few practical ways doulas can support natural labor progression.

Christina Lundy is a certified birth & postpartum doula, certified childbirth educator, doula trainer, and agency owner. She’s located in East Atlanta and serves all of Metro Atlanta. She has 3 kiddos, whom she loves dearly. When she isn’t busy with a client or newer doula, you can find her outside in her garden, painting, or reading. Check out her instagram here.