Cesareans Create Bad Bacteria on Babies!

That isn’t really exactly true, the cesareans don’t create them,  however they have found that babies born vaginally have better bacteria then those born by cesarean.

I loved this article from the News and Science Report on Baby’s First Bacteria Depend on Birth Route

A new survey finds that babies born via cesarean section had markedly different bacteria on their skin, noses mouths and rectums than babies born vaginally. The research adds to evidence that babies born via C-section may miss out on beneficial bacteria passed on by their mothers.

This isn’t really surprising (though many may be surprised to know some bacteria are beneficial!)

Babies born vaginally were colonized predominantly by Lactobacillus, microbes that aid in milk digestion, the research team from the University of Puerto Rico, the University of Colorado in Boulder and two Venezuelan institutes report.  The C-section babies were colonized by a mixture of potentially nasty bacteria typically found on the skin and in hospitals, such as Staphylococcus and Acinetobacter.

This isn’t too surprising as cesarean babies are first touched by nurses and doctors and put on a bed exposed to hospital germs, instead of being put directly on moms.

WAIT, didn’t we just see a film which showed babies being placed directly on moms after a cesarean?

YES we did. Imagine how something that simple could make such a big difference for a baby born via cesarean.

Also it shows the extra importance of skin to skin for mom and baby especially after a cesarean.