OverviewA new study, published recently in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, finds that applying the mother's vaginal fluids on C-section babies after birth successfully restores this microbial balance, and has neurodevelopment benefits, too. Past research has shown infants born by C-section have vastly different gut bacteria composition compared to those born vaginally. The latter receive their early gut bacteria from their mother's birth canal, while C-section babies receive theirs mainly from their mothers' skin, breastmilk, and the environment. 'Vaginal seeding' - In the new study, Clemente, an expert on the role of the microbiome in human health, collaborated with colleagues at the Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China to test out a technique known as "vaginal seeding," or smearing newborns with vaginal fluid. The infants who received the vaginal seeding scored significantly higher at both three and six months.

Source: Economic Times June 19, 2023 13:28 UTC