Past research has shown that the delivery mode (C-section
versus vaginal delivery) of infants affects their microbiota, or the
microscopic living organisms in their bodies. But recent studies have now
connected breastfeeding to the “development of adult-like microbiota” in
infants as well.[1]
One study conducted on 98 Swedish infants found that babies
born through C-section had gut bacteria that differed from their mothers much
more greatly than the gut bacteria found in babies that were born vaginally.[2]
Even more important than the delivery mode, however, was whether the infants’
mothers breast- or bottle-fed them.
Another study concluded that “breastfeeding promotes the
growth of beneficial lactic acid bacteria in the baby’s gut flora, which are
beneficial to the development of the child’s immune system,” and this bacteria can
impact children significantly for up to three years.[3]
Breastfeeding encourages slower, healthier growth of children and leads to “a
slightly lower incidence of obesity, allergies, diabetes and inflammatory bowel
disease later in life.”[4]
Babies are born without bacteria in their gut, and the early
life decisions parents can make regarding their baby’s delivery mode and
whether or not the mother will breastfeed can make the difference between providing
their baby with healthy versus unhealthy bacteria. While there are instances in
which vaginal birth and breastfeeding aren’t possible, whenever they are an option, these study findings show
why they should be the preferred choice of parents. Delivering a baby vaginally
and breastfeeding that baby encourages a healthy start for the baby’s immune
and digestive system, which is something we can all agree is ideal!
Working to restore
GOD’s perfect design in you!
[1] Today’s
Practitioner. “Cessation of Breastmilk Alters Infant Microbiome.”
Todayspractitioner.com, May 27, 2015; Backhed F, et al. “The infant gut
microbiome: New studies on its origins and how it’s knocked out of balance.” Cell Press, May 13, 2015; Bergstrom A,
Skov T, et al. “Intestinal Microbiota during Early Life: A Longitudinal,
Explorative Study of a Large Cohort of Danish Infants.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 80, No. 9.
[2] Backhed F,
et al. “The infant gut microbiome: New studies on its origins and how it’s
knocked out of balance.” Cell Press, May
13, 2015
[3] Today’s
Practitioner. “Breastfeeding & Intestinal Microbiota in Infants.”
Todayspractitioner.com, August 14, 2014; Bergstrom A, Skov T, et al.
“Intestinal Microbiota during Early Life: A Longitudinal, Explorative Study of
a Large Cohort of Danish Infants.” Applied
and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 80, No. 9.
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