BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Study Says Beneficial Bacteria Can Be Restored to Baby After C-Section

Babies born via c-section but swabbed with maternal vaginal fluids were found to have similar microbiota to babies born vaginally.
save article
profile picture of Nehal Aggarwal
By Nehal Aggarwal, Editor
Published July 14, 2021
Peaceful new baby sleeping with mom holding its hands.
Image: Tuan Tran

There is no right way to have a baby. While some women prefer vaginal births, others may opt for c-sections. Or in some birth scenarios, an emergency c-section may become necessary. Experts have previously thought that babies delivered via c-section may not receive the same healthy bacteria to help build their immune system that babies delivered vaginally do. But one study is finding for the first time that these healthy bacteria can be restored.

The study was conducted by researchers at Rutgers University and published in the journal Med. It followed 177 babies—98 of which were born vaginally and 79 of which were born via c-section—from four countries over the first year of their lives. Of the babies born via c-section, 30 of them were swabbed with a maternal vaginal gauze right after birth.

When babies are born vaginally, women are able to provide microbiota, consisting of trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms that are both beneficial and harmful, to babies’ sterile bodies to help their immune system develop. C-sections and antibiotics can disturb this transfer and have been associated with increased risks of obesity, asthma and metabolic diseases, the study notes.

However, researchers showed that when babies born via c-section were swabbed with maternal vaginal fluid their microbiota was close to that of the babies born vaginally. They also found that the maternal vaginal microbiomes were close to the ones found in other areas of the babies’ bodies, like the gut, mouth and skin, showing that the maternal vaginal fluids helped shape the bacteria across their babies’ bodies.

It’s important to note that the study is a small one and the first of its kind, so more research is needed. The researchers believe the next step is to do randomized clinical trials to find if the microbiota actually helps protect babies from disease.

“Further research is needed to determine which bacteria protect against obesity, asthma and allergies, diseases with underlying inflammation,” senior author Maria Gloria Dominguez Bello, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, said in a release. “Our results support the hypothesis that acquiring maternal vaginal microbes normalizes microbiome development in the babies.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

woman holding her baby's hand after undergoing c section procedure
What to Know About C-Section Procedures
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
mom showing c section scar while holding baby
What to Expect During Your C-Section Recovery
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant meghan trainor and son riley smiling
Meghan Trainor on Learning to Love Her Body Again Post C-Section
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
First-Time C-Section Rates Are at an All-Time High, New Report Shows
First-Time C-Section Rates Are at an All-Time High, New Report Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
frida mom c section recovery products gif
Frida Mom Is Launching New Products to Help With C-Section Recovery
By Nehal Aggarwal
Q&A: Is a C-section More Difficult if I'm Overweight?
Q&A: Is a C-section More Difficult if I'm Overweight?
By Colleen Canney
11 Things No One Tells You About C-sections
11 Things No One Tells You About C-sections
By Erin Walters
ADVERTISEMENT
shawn johnson in labor for 22 hours.
Shawn Johnson Reveals She “Felt Guilty” for Delivering via C-Section
By Nehal Aggarwal
pregnant reality star amy duggar
Amy Duggar Had a Planned C-Section and She Isn't Here for Any Shaming
By Ashley Edwards Walker
actress gemma atkins responds to c-section shamers
Actress Gemma Atkinson Defends Herself Against C-Section Shaming
By Ashley Edwards Walker
ADVERTISEMENT
actress kata mara opens up about emergency c-section
Kate Mara Shares ‘Devastation’ Over Emergency C-Section but Wouldn’t Change a Thing
By Stephanie Grassullo
new mom holding her newborn baby after delivery
This 30-Second Video Shows Why C-Section Recovery Is Crucial for New Moms
By Stephanie Grassullo
husband calls his wife badass for delivering their child via c-section
How Your Partner Really Sees Your C-Section Scar: 'Strong, Powerful, Dedicated and Bad*ss'
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
person holding newborn baby's hand in the hospital
C-Section Births Have Nearly Doubled Worldwide Since 2000, Study Finds
By Stephanie Grassullo
new mom sweetly kissing her newborn baby in bed
New Mom Reflects on Her Emergency C-Section: 'at That Moment, I Couldn’t Be More Proud'
By Stephanie Grassullo
mom delivering baby through c-section
This Mom Has One Thing to Say About C-Sections: They Are ‘Never the Easy Way Out’
By Stephanie Grassullo
What No One Tells You About C-Section Guilt
What No One Tells You About C-Section Guilt
By Gina Bazer
ADVERTISEMENT
A Microbe Wipe Could Bridge the Gap Between Vaginal and C-Section Deliveries—But Is It Safe?
A Microbe Wipe Could Bridge the Gap Between Vaginal and C-Section Deliveries—But Is It Safe?
By Anisa Arsenault
mom's c-section photo expressing c-section birth is not the easy way out
Mom's Candid List of Reasons Why a C-Section Is Not the 'Easy Way Out' Is a Must-Read
By Ashley Edwards Walker
mom's son laying on her belly, with her c-section exposed
A New Way to Destigmatize C-Sections? Changing What We Call Them
By Anisa Arsenault
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.