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Each of us harbors a unique collection of bacteria, on our outsides and our insides. Now, scientists are finding that the bacteria you get at birth may depend on how you got here. Because babies born vaginally have a different set of microbes than those that arrive by Caesarean-section. The work appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [Maria Dominguez-Bello et al., http://bit.ly/c1KYK9]
The uterus is a sterile environment. So, in the womb, babies don’t have any bacteria to call their own. It’s only once they enter the world that they begin to collect the microbes that will colonize their bodies and help shape their immunity. But where do these bugs come from?
Scientists sampled the bacterial flora from nine newborns and their mothers. And they found that babies who passed through the birth canal harbored bacteria that matched their moms’ vaginal microbiota. Whereas babies delivered by C-section had microbes typically found on the skin.
The scientists say the results could help explain why babies that arrive by C-section are more susceptible to certain infections. Vaginal microbes might be quicker than skin bugs at snagging all the best bodily real estate, a land grab that could keep harmful infections from getting a foot in the door.
—Karen Hopkin
[The above text is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
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6 Comments
Add CommentThus sayeth the article: "nine newborns and their mothers"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNine newborns? A sample that small, and they're attempting to draw a conclusion from nine points of data?
This.... this is a study? Come on. Really.
Did they sample the bacteria on the father's, uh, skin? Perhaps that is all the variation there is, mother's skin and father's skin.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisQuite interesting and a very important finding but more sample and tests may be necessary. Immunity is one of the most important health asset and more and more knowledge may be helpful to control diseases.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think this finding should be no news. What would be news is when people begin to take this actively into use. To me parents would be wise to seed the newborn with colonies of beneficial bacteria, so that the infant can get to good start and needs not to struggle until he/she can establish those intestinal flora with time.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere are other studies examining infant poop that have determined that intestinal bacteria colonies might start from different proportions, but with time does settle to be quite alike. But that process could be made faster by giving the infant those probiotics from day one. Of course currently for newborns, until that flora is established, one is susceptible for various ailments and disease.
Of course any breast sucking infant is exposed to skin bacteria, but if born vaginally, the vaginal bacteria are the first to begin colonizing the intestines and therefore are into good start.
One way to help cesarean babies gain that would be to scoop some vaginal stuff and put that to the babies mouth right after delivery. But probably staff at the hospital would think this to be too 'yuk' to even consider it. At least until they shed the though that bacteria are all bad.
It certainly makes sense to me. We have taken such great strides in sterilizing our environments that we've dumbed down the body's immune system. Then there's that pesky fact of creating ever bacteria with stronger immune systems.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisToo much of a good thing usually leads to unintended consequences. Like myself my kids enjoy strong immune systems. I've no doubt it is due to our experiencing nature with reckless abandon.
Well, my first was a C and for 26yrs now she is like the canary.
I agree that "of course currently for newborns, untile that flora is established ,one is susceptible for various ailment and disease".Not all bacterias are bad. Some are good and some are harm. We need some bacterias and microbes to improve our immunity.
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