What is the microbiome?
It Is a living bacteria in and on your body forming trillions of different types of pathogenic bacteria and microbes that form into many different types of species. Your gut is a living organism and runs like an ecosystem of its own. 60% of your gut microbiome is set by the age of 3 and the rest can be influenced through food, exercise, and your environment.
This is the most important topic that I feel needs to be discussed at the outset and when you find out you're pregnant. A 101 course on the microbiome should be clearly available as part of the next steps to allow mothers to understand how they can help with providing the best health starter kit for their baby, starting first with themselves by looking after their own microbiome.
There are many studies showing the importance of the microbiome, and there are clear differences that have been found between having a Vaginal birth vs a C-Sections, including the impacts of having
antibiotics. The study can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1560-1#citeas
After doing my own research It is shocking to me that the microbiome is not a primary focus when deciding to decide between having a planned C-section. This brings forth the question;
Would mothers choose to have a planned C-Section over a vaginal birth if they knew the risks of developing long-term health effects causing dysbiosis of the microbiome?
Dysbiosis is characterized by a disruption to the microbiome resulting in an imbalance in the microbiota, changes in their functional composition and metabolic activities, or a shift in their local distribution.
The following issues have been linked to an imbalance in gut bacteria, Obesity, Autism, Asthma, Allergies, Colitis, IBS, MS, Depression, and Mental health. .
Why is this causing these illnesses?
I have found that it is down to the microbial patterns changing between the two methods of birth, because the natural microbes/bacteria that babies are exposed to via the birth canal are not present. The only microbes that the baby is initially exposed to first are Doctor's microbes and the hospital's surroundings, plus the impact of having antibiotics beforehand also shows the microbial patterns are disturbed.
The impact of having antibiotics is significant to the microbiome and research has shown that women who had a vaginal birth, that had antibiotics mirrored the microbial pattern as a baby who had a C section. So we can only imagine the detrimental impact this is having on the best starter kit for the microbiome by creating a good gut diversity with the many species that will enable a healthy microbiome to develop. Now I am not dismissing these C sections, as there are times when this is needed etc.
Emergency C-section, however, I ask the same question as above, would mothers consciously choose this method of birthing if they knew the risks?
Babies that are born vaginally will have the best start in life due to being exposed to the microbes within the birth canal, they sit within the canal and get fully immersed in the good bacteria, therefore, this process is vital to the development of the baby, followed by skin to skin and breastfeeding.
It's imperative to reiterate to the mothers that if they choose a C section doing skin-to-skin straight away and breastfeeding is going to be vital to help get the first initial microbes set. If they choose to bottle feed it's important to give them the information about what this could mean at a later stage in life as their gut microbiome will be hugely compromised as the initial cultivation that makes a healthy, diverse microbiome will be obsolete due to not getting the initial exposure to the vital microbes within the birth canal at outset.
It's interesting to know that a third of the mother's breast milk can't actually be digested and originally it wasn't known why this occurred, however now they do, and that part of the milk is being used to feed the microbes, which shows how amazing the human body is. If the microbes are getting exactly what they need based on a fantastic human design you will get happy microbes, which means a happy microbiome that will improve your overall health.
There are many things the mother can do if they choose to have a planned C section which are the following;
Opt for Antibiotics after the C-section
Straight away Skin on skin
Immerse your skin in the baby Blanket so this is transferred to the baby in case skin to skin can't be done straight away
Breastfeeding
Saving some Colostrum
Vaginal seeding
Ultimately the best option is to have a vaginal birth, however, if mothers choose a C section after having all the information they can do the above to help the initial seeding of the microbiome.
What can mothers do prenatally to help with creating a healthy microbiome before gestation and beyond?
Eat healthy non-processed foods, avoid sugar and sweeteners, moderate exercise (microbes love this). Have a diverse diet of all different non-processed foods ideally plants,
pre & probiotics, high-fiber diet (it is recommended 30 different fruit and vegetables a week).
Greens supplementation helps fill those nutritional gaps supporting the microbes and getting the essential vitamins and minerals. Magnesium Helps with milk supply and support with postpartum
Studies have also shown that within 40 years there has been a 30% decrease in diversity which means fewer species supporting a healthy microbiome, however, there has been a 40% increase in noncommunicable diseases, which seems to me there is a correlation, especially within the western world.
I feel a study of understanding the seeding of the microbiome is what we need to focus on overall to bring forth the next healthy generation as well as having a clear understanding of our own, and how we can influence the 40%, especially through our diet.
For more research/studies with regards to the microbiome please follow the below links
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