When a baby comes into the world naturally, passing through the birth canal, it comes into contact with microorganisms from the mother's vaginal and intestinal secretions, the so-called microbiome. However, when the birth is performed by a surgical procedure, i.e. "caesarean section", everything is of course sterile.
How is "vaginal seeding" performed?
In order for the child born in this way to come into contact with the mother's microbiome as soon as possible, "vaginal seeding" can be done immediately after delivery. And how it is done, explains Christoph Hertel from the University Hospital in Würzburg:
"Before the caesarean section, a swab with the mother's vaginal secretion is taken from the birth canal. And immediately after the procedure, the mouth and skin of the newborn are rubbed with a stick moistened with the mother's vaginal secretion."
A controversial method
Experts are divided about the method of vaginal seeding, mainly because there is still quite a bit of data or scientific studies available.
Associations of gynecologists and pediatricians do not recommend this method. Some researchers and doctors believe that there is a risk of transmitting dangerous microorganisms, such as group B streptococci, chlamydia or even the herpes virus. Proponents of the method claim, however, that such infections can also occur during natural childbirth.
In any case, it is important to carefully weigh the pros and cons, says dr. Hertel, and points out that the possibilities of vaginal seeding should not be taken as the main argument for cesarean section.
Where are most cesarean sections performed?
More and more women are giving birth by caesarean section. It has long been no longer done only for medical reasons. According to the World Health Organization, there are five countries that have a particularly high rate of caesarean sections, in some cases even more than 50 percent: the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Cyprus, Egypt and Turkey.
According to Hertel, the supposed safety of such a delivery for the baby is only one of the reasons why women decide to have a caesarean section. "Of course there is a fear of pain, but the media also play an important role, because they present us with an ideal of beauty that women may no longer embody after a natural birth."
Why is caesarean section safe for the child?
Caesarean section is not completely harmless for the child: about half an hour before the procedure, the pregnant woman receives an antibiotic to prevent infection of the wound, so that the child comes into contact with it while still in the womb. "All the babies were shown to have the appropriate level of antibiotics in the umbilical cord," says Hartel.
Such exposure can create resistance to antibiotics early on, which can be a problem later if they are necessary for treatment. In addition, such early use of antibiotics can affect the composition of the intestinal microbiome and encourage the development of diseases such as asthma, obesity or allergies.
Vaginal seeding & bonding
Look at the miracles: nature has a solution from the very beginning: breastfeeding. Or, as scientists say, mother's milk or skin-to-skin contact is good for transferring the microbiome from mother to child.
And that's why here is an ingenious Dutch study published at the beginning of March 2023 in the journal "Cellular Host and Microbes": the mother's microbiome, according to the authors, is transmitted to the newborn through skin contact and breast milk, and not only through vaginal secretions. Together, it supplies the newborn with an "arsenal" of microbes. If some element is missing, such as vaginal discharge during a caesarean section, skin contact and breast milk make up for it.
"The so-called 'bonding', which translates to bonding with the mother, can help the microbiome to develop in the first few weeks in a similar way as in naturally born babies," explains Hertel. This means that the baby should be breastfed and cuddled a lot.
Or - at least pump the milk and give it to the baby with a bottle, which also became a trend a long time ago, because the news spread that breastfeeding distorts the breasts. Of course, it is preferable to have contact with the baby's skin when giving the bottle.
Bonus video:
