Infants & Their Microbiome
In a previous blog post, The Microbiome, I briefly explained what the microbiome is and how it benefits us with regard to our immune system. In this blog post, I want to dig deeper and discuss infants and their microbiome, and how it benefits them the moment they are born.
How does an infant get their microbiome?
In an effort to keep every fetus safe, the wonderful human body creates a nearly sterile environment for the fetus to inhabit throughout their gestational period. This means that there is little bacteria in the amniotic sac, as the fetus develops. So at what point does a baby get their own microbiome? At their birth.
Once the amniotic sac ruptures and the waters are released, this is the beginning stage of a baby being “seeded” with their own set of bacteria, as they are now exposed to their mother’s bacteria. As labor progresses and baby enters (and eventually is born through) the birth canal, bacteria begins to settle in the areas that require it (i.e., the gut, vagina, etc.) as it enters through the baby’s mouth, nose, eyes, and skin.
What is quite interesting is that during this process of being “seeded,” the baby’s own immune system is suppressed in order for their body to not reject this vital piece that is required for their current and future health. The suppression of the baby’s immune system takes place during the latter stages of gestation.
How amazing is it that a newborn’s body knows what to do at birth, in order to ensure their health well into adulthood? After baby has been born, their microbiome will then “train” their immune system, as it further develops.
How can baby’s microbiome be optimized?
Remember that a baby is “seeded” during the birth process as they travel through the birth canal. A mother cannot transfer what she does not have, so maintaining a healthy microbiome is the first start. If a c-section is a high probability, you can talk to your doctor and ask them what they know about manually “seeding” your baby using gauze that is placed inside of the vagina and then wiped onto the newborn baby’s skin and in their mouth. Keep in mind that, if your doctor is privy to this information, you may need to meet a set of requirements in order to be a candidate of manual seeding.
the previous blog post, I mentioned that our own bacteria feeds on fiber, this is because fiber contains special sugars that our bacteria needs for energy. Because of this, it important to consume healthy amounts of fruits and vegetables per day in order to encourage a diverse population of microbes. Below are some additional tips to encourage a healthy microbiome.
Avoid antibiotics. Both mother and baby should avoid antibiotics as much as possible, as this not only kills off bad bacteria, but it kills off the good bacteria that we need for a thriving immune system. If you test positive for Group B Strep (GBS) and believe you will be administered antibiotics during labor, look for ways to treat it naturally. Some women have mentioned treating GBS with fermented foods and probiotics, especially with lactobacillus as this bacteria helps to maintain balance in our vagina.
Skin to skin. Once baby has reached earthside, it is important that skin to skin is performed immediately. This will allow the baby to obtain any additional bacteria that is present on mom’s skin, continuing this “seed” and transfer process.
Breastfeed. There are so many known benefits to breastfeeding, add to the list that breastfeeding continues to develop the baby’s microbiome. There are sugars present in breast milk, known as oligosaccharides, which feeds the infant’s good bacteria.
The Final Takeaway
My goal is to simply spread awareness of the microbiome. It has such a huge impact on our lives, especially for infants when parents want nothing but the best for their babies and to ensure that they are the healthiest possible. It’s important to understand that before and during pregnancy it is crucial to preserve our good bacteria as much as possible, because what a mother has available to herself, is a good indication of what her baby will have available once they are born.
Be sure to check out books that I have recommended reading as it can assist in building more knowledge and understanding of the microbiome.
Disclaimer: This article is meant solely for the purpose of offering information and must not be interpreted or regarded as medical advice.