Caesarian Delivery Increases Baby's Risk of Allergies And Diarrhoea

At a time when record numbers of women are seeking the 'convenience' of birth by caesarian section, researchers have shown that babies born this way face an increased risk of developing allergies and diarrhoea during their first 12 months of life. Researchers followed up a group of 865 babies, 147 of whom had been born by caesarian section. The babies were monitored up to the age of 12 months, and blood samples were also checked for signs of allergies to common foods, including cow's milk. They found that during the follow up period, babies born by caesarian were significantly more likely to suffer from diarrhoea, and twice as likely to show signs of allergies to common foods, compared with babies delivered the normal way. The research suggests that being born by caesarian section prevents a baby from picking up 'good' bacteria from its mother, which can affect the development of the newborn's immune system making it more likely to develop allergies. Article by Jemima Stockton about probiotics and 'friendly bacteria'