Researchers at Utrecht University Medical Center have demonstrated that infants receive the microbes they need from their mothers, regardless of whether birth is natural or via cesarean section. The findings appeared in Cell Host and Microbe, a respected journal in the field.
Earlier studies suggested that cesarean births could limit a newborn’s access to crucial gut bacteria. The current investigation explored whether infants can compensate by acquiring microbes through other channels, such as breast milk or near-physically intimate contact with the mother.
To understand this transfer, scientists collected multiple samples from 120 Dutch mothers, including skin swabs, breast milk, and sites such as the nose, throat, stool, and vagina. After birth, infants provided skin, nose, saliva, and gut microbiome samples at two hours, then at one day, one week, two weeks, and one month of age. This approach offered a detailed timeline of microbial transfer between mother and child.
Results showed that roughly 58.5 percent of the infant microbiome has its origin in the mother. In cesarean deliveries, infants tended to receive fewer microbes from the mother’s vaginal and fecal microbiomes, while receiving more from breast milk. This pattern underscores the significant role of breastfeeding for babies born by cesarean, though it also highlights the resilience of microbial sharing through alternative routes.
The researchers emphasize that the remaining portion of the newborn’s microbiome likely depends on other family members and the surrounding environment. The broader aim is to map how early microbial development connects to later health outcomes, including allergies and respiratory conditions such as asthma. By unpacking these links, the work seeks to inform strategies that support healthy microbiome establishment across diverse birth experiences and family contexts.