Research shows C-section babies have different gut bacteria to those born vaginally

The most comprehensive baby microbiome study to date has found that babies born by caesarean section have different gut bacteria to those born vaginally.

The study found that infants born naturally pick up most of their first dose of bacteria from their mother, while babies born by C-section contract more bugs through hospital environments, including strains that demonstrate antimicrobial resistance, which may explain why there are more cases of allergies, asthma and other immune conditions in babies born by caesarean.

Nigel Field of University College London and senior author of the report, said “How your immune system functions through your life might be influenced by its first interactions with bacteria. If there are differences in longer-term health outcomes by different patterns of [bacteria], that tells us something quite important about health.”

Up until now, it has been thought that babies’ microbiomes may be shaped by bacteria swallowed while in the birth canal. However, these latest findings revealed that the microbiome of newborns delivered vaginally comes from the mother’s gut, presumably picked up during birth, rather than vaginal bacteria.

The study also suggested that antibiotics, normally given to the mother before a caesarean, play a role in shaping the baby microbiome.

Andrew Shennan, professor of obstetrics at King’s College London, said “This important study confirms that the way we give birth will alter our microbiome in the first year of life. Caesarean delivery results in fewer bacteria in the baby’s gut being like its mother’s.

“This is not known to be harmful and mothers who need a caesarean should not be alarmed. The first effects of this in long term health need to be evaluated.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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