Jun 20, 2023 20:00:00

Applying mother's vaginal secretion to baby may benefit brain development

Babies born by caesarean section are unable to acquire bacteria from their mother's vagina as they pass through the birth canal, which can affect the baby's microbiome and cause future health and developmental problems. gender is pointed out. A new study suggests that 'vaginal seeding', in which the mother's vaginal secretion is applied to the baby, may be an effective way to shape the baby's microbiome.

Effects of vaginal microbiota transfer on the neurodevelopment and microbiome of cesarean-born infants: A blinded randomized controlled trial - ScienceDirect

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2023.05.022

Mum's microbes might boost brain development of c-section babies

https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-01972-4

'Vaginal Seeding' May Alter Baby Brains, Experiment Shows : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/vaginal-seeding-may-alter-baby-brains-experiment-shows

A research team at China's Southern Medical University conducted an experiment in which the lips, skin and hands of 32 infants delivered by caesarean section were applied with vaginal fluid collected from their mothers two hours before delivery. Babies were rubbed with a cotton swab for approximately 15 seconds and were not bathed for 12 hours after application. Another 36 babies born by caesarean section were similarly applied with saline and served as a control group.

After 6 weeks, the stools of babies who had been smeared with vaginal fluid contained more mature bacteria than babies who had just been rubbed with saline, and they also contained maternal bacteria. It was said that it was done. In addition, babies exposed to vaginal fluids scored higher in a parent-reported study of brain development, with scores similar to those of babies born vaginally, researchers said. said.

The content of the developmental survey conducted this time was to check the communication skills and motor skills of the baby, and to check the skills such as reaching for a toy and whether the baby smiled back at the parent. In this experiment, parents could not tell what kind of treatment their babies received, whether they were in the experimental group or the control group.

Babies born by caesarean section have been shown to have different gut flora compared to babies born vaginally, and some

studies show that the differences disappear after about 9 months of birth. It is suggested to Studies have shown that children born by cesarean section are more likely to develop childhood obesity, asthma and diabetes later in life, but this may be directly caused by the baby's gut bacteria or mitigated by vaginal seeding. It is unknown whether

Yang He, who was involved in the experiment, said, ``Vaginal seeding may have a positive effect on children's short-term brain development, at least for the first six months of life. We don't know exactly how it affects development.' says it makes no sense.

``This is a very exciting and promising result, but as children grow, their brains change so much that the differences in neurodevelopment can be meaningful,'' said Alexander Holtz of the University of Minnesota, who was not involved in the study. A few months of developmental delay may mean nothing after 18 years.'