Microbiome for Life at the Moment of Birth
A microbiome is defined as all of the micro-organisms that live with us and on us. This includes bacteria, viruses and fungi. Our microbiome interacts with us as a co-partner as the relationship is mutually beneficial. There is an intimate relationship between our microbiome and our gut/immune system.
The mother is the primary source of the baby’s microbiome and vaginal birth is the main seeding event. During vaginal delivery, microbes from the vagina and skin go directly to the newborn’s GI tract and establishes the baby’s gut microbiome. This event trains the immune system and trains the brain to mature appropriately. Breastfeeding also transfers the mother’s microbiome to the baby. Breast milk, however, is specifically formulated for the microbiome. It provides a food source specifically for the microbes which build and mature the brain, gut an immune system.
When baby’s are delivered via cesarean section, the only bacteria transferred to the baby is via the mother’s skin, which is not appropriate in the gut. Additional inappropriate microbes come from the hospital. Long term health problems can then ensue by an inadequate seeding event. To counteract this, ask your physician to swab your vagina and then swab the baby’s face and body. This ensures that your baby’s microbiome is seeded by you!
An imbalanced microbiome, or a microbiome in which the numbers and kind of bacteria are not ideal, can cause various chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, lupus, colitis, celiac disease, cancer, autism and food allergies. Certain medications, antibiotics and food additives have not been screened on their effect on the microbiome and are often unsafe to gut bacteria. Fortunately, re-biosis can be undertaken at any time and at any age. In order to do so, a change in diet and microbes must be done simultaneously. Introducing a variety of beneficial microbes (prebiotics and probiotics) found in different types of fermented foods causes a bacteria change within the gut. This bacteria change causes the diet to change as new, beneficial bacteria require different food sources to thrive.
Birth choices are crucial in the health and well being of newborns and society as a whole. If a cesarean section is necessary, a vaginal swab can be collected prior to any administration of antibiotics and swabbed on the baby’s mouth, face and body upon delivery. If antibiotic therapy is needed prior to the baby’s birth, microbiome seeding is impacted. Take probiotics to counteract antibiotic use and to restore microbiome.