Natural Induction: What Your Body Needs to go into Labour


When you're approaching your guess date (also known as estimated due date or estimated date of arrival), it can feel like pressure is coming from every direction, from well-meaning friends, from hospital timelines, and even from your own anticipation. You might be wondering what you can do to bring on labour.


But the truth is: labour begins not from a checklist of induction techniques, but from a delicate hormonal conversation between your body and your baby.


We've all heard, 'your baby will come when they are ready', but you're thinking, 'surely there is something I can do to support this process'. Thats what we will be discussing today, the perfect read for a Mum who understands physiology, but still wants to do something to get the ball rolling.

Holistic healer performing therapeutic massage treatment on client lying on white couch in wellness studio.

Image of Michelle from Perth Doula Services taken by Sarah Del Borrello

Understanding the Hormonal Cascade of Birth


Labour isn’t triggered by one single hormone. It’s a multi-layered, biologically choreographed sequence often referred to as the hormonal cascade of childbirth. According to the work of Dr Sarah Buckley, this sequence involves:

  • Cortisol, which rises from your baby, signalling readiness.
  • Estrogen, which primes your uterus to respond to oxytocin.
  • Prostaglandins, which soften the cervix.
  • Oxytocin, the hormone of love and connection, which stimulates contractions and helps with bonding.
  • Melatonin, which amplifies oxytocin at night.
  • Beta-Endorphins, which help manage the intensity of labour and promote a calm, inward-focused state.

These hormones rise and fall in response to each other, as well as to your environment, your emotions, and even the time of day. Which means the best way to support spontaneous labour is to create an environment that supports physiology.


To learn more about the hormonal cascade of childbirth visit: Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing | National Partnership for Women & Families

Professional massage therapist performing therapeutic massage technique on client's leg on padded table.

Image of Michelle from Perth Doula Services taken by Sarah Del Borrello

Birth Hormones: A Conversation Between Baby & Mother


Labour begins not from a single switch being flipped. It’s the result of a complex, finely tuned conversation between you and your baby, carried out through hormones. When we talk about "natural induction," it's really about creating the right environment—physically and emotionally—for these hormonal systems to work as they were designed to.

Here’s a overview of the six major hormones that contribute to the onset of labour—and what you can do to support them:


Oxytocin – The Love Hormone

Oxytocin, often called the "love hormone," plays a central role in triggering labour. It is responsible for stimulating uterine contractions and promoting the emotional bond between you and your baby.

What It Does:

  • Oxytocin stimulates contractions of the uterus, helping to dilate the cervix and contract the uterus to move the baby down the birth canal.
  • It promotes feelings of love and connection, aiding in the emotional bonding between mother and baby.
  • It plays an important role in the birth of the placenta and encourages bonding and breastfeeding after birth.

How to Support It:

  • Everyday Activities: Engaging in activities that make you feel happy and relaxed, such as laughter, light physical activity (walking or dancing), listening to calming or uplifting music, or even patting a dog, can all help boost oxytocin levels and promote a sense of relaxation and connection.
  • Positive Touch: Cuddling, holding hands, massage, and any form of gentle touch that feels comforting can trigger oxytocin production and beta-endorphins.
  • Nipple Stimulation: Gently rubbing or rolling your nipples can encourage oxytocin production.
  • Orgasm: Oxytocin is released during orgasm, and it plays a role in enhancing uterine contractions during both sexual arousal and labour. This is why some women may experience uterine contractions after orgasm. Studies suggest that oxytocin facilitates childbirth by enhancing uterine contractions and increasing the efficiency of labour


Prostaglandins – Cervical Softener

Prostaglandins are a group of hormones that help to soften and ripen the cervix, helping it to efface (thin) and dilate (open) during labour. These hormones also help regulate uterine contractions.

What They Do:

  • Prostaglandins are essential in preparing the cervix for labour. They trigger the cervix to soften, thin out (efface), and open (dilate) to allow the baby to pass through.
  • They also contribute to the smooth muscle contractions of the uterus.

How to Support it:

  • Sex and Semen: Semen contains high levels of prostaglandins. Having sex (especially when semen comes into prolonged contact with the cervix) can encourage the cervix to ripen.
  • Movement: Gentle movement, such as walking, dancing, or using a birth ball, can also stimulate the release of prostaglandins.
  • Acupressure and Massage: Specific acupressure points can stimulate the body to release prostaglandins and assist in the ripening of the cervix.


Melatonin – The Night-Time Amplifier

Melatonin is known for its role in regulating sleep, but it is often critical in facilitating physiological labour. Its secretion is closely linked to the body’s circadian rhythm (your natural sleep-wake cycle), which is why labour often begins at night.

What It Does:

  • Melatonin is thought to increase the sensitivity of the uterus to oxytocin, enhancing contractions at night.
  • It helps to promote a restful and restorative environment, making your body more likely to respond to oxytocin when it peaks during the evening hours.

How to Support it:

  • Avoid Screens Before Bed: Exposure to bright light, particularly blue light from screens, can suppress melatonin production. Instead, opt for softer lighting in the evening.
  • Get Morning Sunlight: Sunlight helps to reset your circadian rhythm, boosting melatonin production in the evening.
  • Establish a Calming Bedtime Routine: Prioritising quality sleep, especially in late pregnancy, is essential for natural labour onset. Create a relaxing environment—dim lighting, comfortable bedding, and calming activities like reading or warm baths.


Cortisol – Baby’s Readiness Signal

Cortisol, often referred to as the "stress hormone," is naturally produced by your baby when they are getting ready for birth. It helps to signal to your body that your baby’s organs have matured, indicating that they are ready to transition to life outside the womb.

What It Does:

  • Rising levels of cortisol from your baby help prepare their lungs and other organs for life outside the womb.
  • As cortisol increases, it triggers a hormonal cascade that encourages your body to begin the process of labour.

How to Support it:

  • Trust the Timing: There’s no need to rush the process. Allowing your pregnancy to unfold naturally gives your baby the time they need to prepare for birth, and the transition to life on the outside.


Beta-Endorphins – Nature’s Pain Relief

Beta-endorphins are your body’s natural pain-relieving hormones. As your labour progresses, these hormones increase.

What They Do:

  • Beta-endorphins reduce the perception of pain and discomfort, helping you to cope with contractions.
  • They promote feelings of calm and focus, allowing you to remain inwardly concentrated during the birth process.

How to Support them:

  • Calming Environment: Creating a peaceful, quiet, and private environment encourages the production of beta-endorphins.
  • Breathing Techniques: Practising deep breathing or other relaxation techniques can help release beta-endorphins naturally.
  • Music and Touch: Engaging in activities that make you feel safe, such as listening to calming music or having gentle touch, can increase endorphin production.


Estrogen – The Uterus Primer

  • What it does: Increases uterine sensitivity to oxytocin and prostaglandins, helps soften the cervix.
  • How to support it: You can't boost estrogen levels, but your body increases it naturally as you near full term. A healthy, well-nourished body and sufficient rest support this shift.


As Dr Sarah Buckley says, “These hormonal systems are not only finely tuned—they are also exquisitely sensitive to disturbance.”
A tender moment between two close companions resting together on a couch in soft lighting.

Image taken by Sarah Del Borrello

Supporting Spontaneous Labour Naturally


Once we understand how labour begins, it becomes clear that we don’t need to force it to start. Instead, we can support the body and baby to be ready, through both physical alignment and emotional readiness.


Physical Readiness: Creating Space and Balance

Your body’s physical readiness can greatly impact how well baby engages, whether the cervix receives the right pressure signals, and how easily labour progresses. Key areas to support include:

Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP)

How you move and position your body in late pregnancy can influence how your baby settles into your pelvis, and whether they are in the best position for labour to begin and progress efficiently. OMP encourages balance in the pelvis and soft tissues, creating space for baby to engage well and stimulate the cervix.

Learn more: Optimal Maternal Positioning

Full-Body Alignment and Pelvic Balance

When the body is well-aligned, tension is reduced and baby has more space to move. Misalignments or imbalances—especially in the pelvis or spine—can restrict movement or make it harder for baby to descend.

Support from experienced providers an improve mobility, reduce discomfort, and optimise baby’s position.

  • Pregnancy chiropractic care
  • Women’s health physiotherapy
  • Osteopathy
  • Massage therapy
  • Acupuncture

Pelvic Floor Preparation

The pelvic floor isn’t just about strength—it’s about flexibility and coordination. A hypertonic (tight) pelvic floor may make labour more challenging, while a balanced, responsive pelvic floor can better accommodate baby’s descent. Pelvic floor physios can help assess and guide this process.


Emotional Readiness: Cultivating Safety and Calm

Your emotional state can have a significant effect on labour hormones—particularly oxytocin and beta-endorphins.

Emotional Clearing and Mindfulness Practices

  • Processing previous birth trauma through counselling or therapy
  • Meditation, mindfulness, or hypnobirthing techniques
  • Journaling, affirmations, or birth story work
  • Energy-based therapies like reiki or somatic release, which acknowledge how emotions can be stored in the body’s tissues

Practical Stress Reduction

  • Meal trains or healthy meal delivery services
  • Hiring help with cleaning or gardening
  • Asking for support from friends and family
  • Reducing your to-do list and saying “no” where needed


All of these can reduce background stress, giving your nervous system a break and allowing your body to focus on preparation and labour. This isn’t about being perfectly calm or perfectly balanced. It’s about giving your body the conditions it needs to do what it was designed to do.

Two people in dimly lit room with string lights creating moody atmospheric lighting in background.

Image taken by Sarah Del Borrello

While there’s no rush to induce labour, understanding the natural processes that guide it can help you feel empowered and informed. By creating the right environment for your body and baby, you allow nature to take its course in the most harmonious way possible. Remember, every birth is unique, and sometimes patience is the most effective tool in bringing on labour.

References, Research and Links