More Than Just a Way Out: The Physiological Benefits of a Vaginal Birth.

We often talk about birth as a moment. A day. A delivery.

But birth is not just a transition—it’s a blueprint. And the way our babies are born lays a physical, neurological, and immunological foundation that echoes throughout their lives.

This is not about shame. C-sections, when used in true emergency, save lives. We honor that. We honor the mothers who have walked that path, the babies who entered that way. But we cannot allow a life-saving intervention to become the norm simply out of convenience, fear, or policy.

We must remember why vaginal birth exists the way it does. Why it’s worth preparing for. Why it’s worth understanding.

The First Immune Transfer

Vaginal birth is more than passage through a canal—it’s a full-body, full-sensory activation for the baby.

As the baby moves through the vaginal canal, they are coated in beneficial bacteria—the mother's vaginal flora. This is their first inoculation, the very beginning of their microbiome, which directly influences their gut health, immune function, and even neurological development.

Babies born vaginally have been shown to have more diverse and stable gut flora compared to those born by C-section. This diversity supports immune regulation, helping them better respond to illness, inflammation, and food sensitivities later in life.

It’s also been linked to lower rates of allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders—an outcome not from chance, but from intentional, biological design.

The Squeeze: Nature’s Physiological Reset

The passage of the birth canal involves a rhythmic compression of the baby’s chest and body—a squeeze that gently expels fluid from the lungs, prepares the baby to breathe, and activates their sympathetic nervous system for that first breath.

This squeeze is not just a mechanical event. It’s neurological. Hormonal. Foundational.

In the equine world, they recognize this as essential. The Madigan Squeeze is a method used post birth to help “dummy foals” who haven’t properly transitioned from womb to world. This phenomenon is well-recognized in the equine world. Foals who are birthed too quickly—without the gradual, rhythmic pressure of the birth canal—can fail to realize they’ve been born at all. They remain disoriented, limp, disconnected. It’s not a flaw in them—it’s a bypass of the physiological process meant to awaken them.

The solution? A method known as the Madigan Squeeze—a gentle technique using ropes to mimic the natural compression of the birth canal. Within minutes, the foal often “wakes up,” begins to stand, nurse, and bond—fully arriving into life.

That same gentle pressure, in human birth, is not incidental. It is intelligent design—a built-in system of activation, orientation, and awareness.

Head Molding and Nervous System Activation

The baby’s head is not fully fused at birth for a reason. The soft fontanelles and overlapping skull plates allow the head to mold during passage, which:

• Stimulates cranial nerves

• Improves cerebral spinal fluid flow

• Supports balance and neurological wiring

C-section babies often bypass this process, which can lead to increased risk of cranial asymmetry, tension, and sensory imbalances—not always immediately noticeable, but often felt in feeding, sleep, and regulation challenges.

Arch, Curve, and Core: The Hidden Power of Movement

As the baby rotates and moves through the birth canal, the natural pressure activates the extension reflex—you’ll often see newborns arching shortly after birth. This reflex:

• Promotes the development of the lumbar spinal curve

• Encourages early motor tone

• Lays the groundwork for crawling, standing, and walking

These primal movements are the beginning of coordination, balance, and spatial awareness—all formed in the dark, watery passage of birth.

Breath, Body, and Blood Sugar

Babies born vaginally also benefit from:

• Higher respiratory readiness, due to better fluid clearance and hormonal preparation during labor

• Stable thermoregulation and blood sugar levels, especially with immediate skin-to-skin

• A surge of catecholamines (stress hormones) that activate lung function and stimulate alertness

This is why many vaginally born babies are more alert and ready to breastfeed shortly after birth.

Better Breastfeeding and Bonding

Labor triggers a powerful cascade of hormones—oxytocin, adrenaline, noradrenaline—that prime both mother and baby for bonding. Babies born vaginally often demonstrate:

• Stronger rooting and sucking reflexes

• More effective latching

• Earlier initiation of breastfeeding

When uninterrupted, this process fosters emotional security, regulation, and long-term bonding. It should be noted that interventions such as synthetic pitocin, can also interfere with this.

Sensory Integration and Emotional Regulation

The stimulation of vaginal birth supports:

• The vestibular system (balance)

• The proprioceptive system (body awareness)

• Cortisol and heart rate regulation for a calmer early transition

This matters. A baby who feels safe, grounded, and connected is a baby who grows in rhythm with their world—not in reaction to it.

The Reminder

We’ve allowed vaginal birth to become optional, medicalized, even feared. But it was never designed to be bypassed—it was designed to do something.

C-sections, when truly necessary, save lives. But let us not forget the why behind the original blueprint.

Vaginal birth is not just the natural way—it is the physiologically optimal way for the baby’s development, health, and adaptation to the outside world.

Let us bring back reverence. Let us restore education. Let us empower mothers not just with options, but with understanding.

Birth is not just about the destination. It’s about the passage.And when we honor the passage, we honor the baby.

Sincerely, a Meraki Mother.

Evidence-Based References:

1. Dominguez-Bello MG, et al.Delivery mode shapes the acquisition and structure of the initial microbiota across multiple body habitats in newborns.https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1002601107

2. Neu J, Rushing J.Cesarean versus Vaginal Delivery: Long-term Infant Outcomes and the Hygiene Hypothesis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110651/

3. Aleman M, et al.Survey of Veterinarians Using a Novel Physical Compression Squeeze Procedure in the Management of Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome in Foals.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5615300/

4. Hansen AR, et al.Neonatal complications of cesarean birth.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18077440/

5. Lagercrantz H, et al.The birth process and the newborn brain.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19945643/

6. Moore ER, et al.Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants.https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub4/full

7. Bystrova K, et al.Early human contact influences breastfeeding.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19489802/