
Approximately one-third of US babies are delivered by C-section.
BEACON TRANSCRIPT – According to a new study in neonatology, approximately one-third of all newborn are delivered using a surgical method called a cesarean section or C-section. The doctors believe that children born by C-section lack several microbes as opposed to children delivered through the vaginal canal. Several C-section tykes received helpful bacteria in a US hospital.
Over the years, there have been many debates regarding the two methods of birth. While some would agree that vaginal birth is far superior to C-section births, there are some situations in which this procedure cannot be performed. For example, a vaginal birth can become impossible if the baby’s body is too big or if the mother has a high risk of developing a full-blown hemorrhage during the procedure.
In times like these, the doctors prefer to perform a surgical intervention called a cesarean section, or C-section for short. Basically, during this intervention, the surgeon performs an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus in order to extract the child.
In the last decade, pregnant women began to reconsider vaginal births and opt for a painless method. Although it has been proved that C-section births can be safer than vaginal birth, it would seem that this type of birth can reft the newborn of several helpful microbes.
The scientists believe that the journey through the vaginal canal provides the newborn with several helpful microbes which can protect him against diseases by strengthening his immune system.
In order to test this theory, a team of scientists from the NYU Langone Medical Center has performed a little experiment on several newborns. C-section tykes received helpful bacteria from their mothers.
After the babies were delivered by C-section, the doctors took some samples from their mother’s vaginal canal and swabbed the babies with the fluid. They continued to monitor the tykes for another 30 days. The team discovered that after this period, all of the babies delivered by C-section exhibited the same microbiome as those delivered through more traditional means.
Alexander Khoruts, from the University of Minnesota, said that this study is capable of providing an insight on how to prevent the development of some diseases. The medical specialists also added that this study couldn’t have come at a better time since the rate of chronic diseases has risen since the 50s.
Even though the results have shown that the babies swabbed with the vaginal solution began to grow the same microbiome as those born through vaginal birth, they are unsure whether this new move will protect them of not.
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