Scientists from the Utrecht University Medical Center have proven that babies, whether born naturally or by cesarean section, get the microbes they need from their mothers. Research published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe.
Some previous research has shown that having a baby by cesarean section can prevent the baby from getting essential gut bacteria. In the new study, researchers set out to test whether babies could use compensatory ways to acquire microbes, such as from breast milk or skin contact with the mother.
Doctors collected skin, breast milk, nose, throat, stool and vagina samples several times from 120 Dutch mothers. They collected skin, nose, saliva, and gut microbiome samples from infants two hours after birth and at one day, one week, two weeks, and one month old.
Scientists have found that about 58.5% of the microbiome a child receives from the mother comes from the mother. Babies born by cesarean section had fewer germs from their mothers’ vaginal and fecal microbiomes, but more germs from breast milk. This highlights the importance of breastfeeding, especially for babies born by cesarean section.
The team now wants to learn more about the impact of other family members and the environment on the remaining 40% of the newborn microbiome. Ultimately, researchers want to understand how infant microbiome development is linked to long-term health, such as allergies and asthma.