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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 15/06/2011 11:58:35

Title: Do births by caesarian section reduce bacterial immunity?
Post by: thedoc on 15/06/2011 11:58:35

Do births by caesarean section reduce bacterial immunity as you are not exposed to your mothers bacteria as you would in a natural birth when you exit through the womb?
Asked by Chris Smith


                                       

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Title: Do births by caesarian section reduce bacterial immunity?
Post by: thedoc on 15/06/2011 11:58:35

There haven’t been a huge amount of studies done comparing caesarean and normal birth, but I think if at all possible, then a normal birth is actually preferable because as you say, the baby is sampling the mother’s bacteria as it’s being born. It’s also immediately encountering the mother’s skin bacteria as well as soon as it’s put to the breast and things, and that is definitely an advantage.  I think in the greater scheme of things whether it has a long term effect on the health of the child, that's really still up for debate.