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Caesarean section deficits can be compensated for by breastfeeding

11.4.2023

Translation: machine translated

For a long time, it was thought that babies born by caesarean section were at a disadvantage. A study from the Netherlands has now come to a different conclusion.

Increased risk of allergies, asthma or obesity - doctors have always warned of the negative consequences that a caesarean birth can have. The reason: during a natural birth, the baby comes into contact with important bacteria from the mother's vaginal or intestinal secretions. These bacteria colonise the newborn's intestines and become part of the newborn's microbiome.

The microbiome - the entirety of all microorganisms that colonise humans - is involved in vital physiological processes such as digestion. The initial colonisation by the mother's microbes is considered to be particularly important: studies have shown that caesarean section babies have a different intestinal flora to vaginally born babies. It was therefore assumed that caesarean section babies have a deficit of microorganisms.

Study with 120 mother-child pairs

A new study by a Dutch research team now refutes this. According to the study, caesarean section babies also come into contact with these important bacteria. For the survey, a total of 120 mother-child pairs were followed during the first 30 days after the birth. Breast milk, skin, saliva and nasopharynx were analysed. The results of the study suggest that the important bacteria are also passed on to the newborn after birth.

Almost 60 per cent of the entire baby microbiome comes from the mother - regardless of how the child was born. In the absence of vaginal contact, other microbial sources such as skin, saliva and breast milk could compensate for the initially detrimental effect of the caesarean section on the infant microbiome, the researchers write. Breastfeeding in particular was able to compensate for the initial shortfall in caesarean section babies. Once again, breast milk proved to be a miracle of nature: If the babies were delivered naturally, the microbial flora of the type of bacteria tended to originate from their mother's vaginal and intestinal tract. In the caesarean section babies, on the other hand, they tended to come from the mother's milk.

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Nursing pillows

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Further investigations are necessary

"Evolution has ensured that microbes are transmitted to the infant in one way or another," explains study leader Wouter de Steenhuijsen Piters in a press release. Further studies must now show what role this composition plays. Further investigations could also shed light on where the remaining 40 per cent of the microbiome comes from. "It would be interesting to stratify this unknown proportion in order to find out where all the microbes come from. Whether, for example, the fathers, siblings or environment contribute," says De Steenhuijsen Piters. It could also be investigated how the development of the microbiome in babies affects their long-term health.

Cover photo: Unsplash/Wren Meinberg

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Anne Fischer

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Anne.Fischer@galaxus.de

A true local journalist with a secret soft spot for German pop music. Mum of two boys, a dog and about 400 toy cars in all shapes and colours. I always enjoy travelling, reading and go to concerts, too.

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