Hypnobirthing

 
Babies born by caesarean section are more vulnerable to asthma, allergies and infection as they miss out on receiving their mothers’ good bacteria during birth, a scientist says.
Professor Patricia Conway, of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of NSW, said babies delivered vaginally received protective bacteria as they passed through the birth canal. Left on the baby’s skin, this bacteria could then colonise the intestine and help inoculate newborns against hospital bugs. Gut flora was also crucial for developing a balanced immune system, Professor Conway said. “With a C-section, the newborn baby misses an opportunity to pick up a lot of mum’s good bacteria,” she said.
“This can have long-term health implications, as the development of a good intestinal ecosystem is necessary for health and immunity to allergies, from childhood right through to adulthood.”
Professor Conway said emergency caesareans, performed after labour had begun, meant babies did receive some of the beneficial bacteria, particularly if the waters had broken. But elective caesareans were ”sterile” and gave babies no chance to pick up any of the mother’s good bacteria. However babies had other chances to receive their mother’s bacteria, during skin-to-skin contact directly after birth and if they were breastfed.
Australian College of Midwives vice-president Hannah Dahlen said babies born vaginally had the advantage of hormonal surges during labour, which made them more wide-eyed and able to connect with their mothers. Both mother and baby experienced a surge in catecholamines – the fight-or-flight hormone – during labour, making babies more alert at birth.
Recent studies had shown white blood cells in babies born by caesarean were different to those born vaginally, potentially altering the way their bodies responded to attacks on their immune systems for […]