Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin are times that establish the baby’s best health! They provide essential exposure to their mother’s microbiome.
The microbiome is a microscopic community formed by all hundred trillion forms of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and their genes, living in every nook and cranny, inside of us and around us in the water, soil, and air. For humans, the microbiome plays an essential role in digestion and metabolism. Research reveals that the gut bacteria micro-ecosystem is especially key to long-term health and wellness. It is integral to a strong immune system, providing essential cells that fine-tune our body’s response to threats.
The mother’s microbiome builds the baby’s microbiome.During pregnancy, it even changes, helping the baby's gut receive beneficial bacteria at birth! The process of colonization of our microbiome is now known to be a natural and steady one in the fetus. Since placentas have specific microorganisms, they are not sterile at birth. Babies have already been receiving the mother’s microbiome in the womb—through the oral, vaginal, and intestinal microbiota through the placenta—preparing the baby for life in the outside world.
Significantly, the major seeding of the baby’s microbiome occurs during their passage through the birth canal. As soon as the waters break, the baby is exposed to vaginal microbes in the birth canal. Then, more microbes are acquired from contact with her fecal microbiota (poop) when born, then from skin-to-skin and breastfeeding, and with every touch and every breath.
Microbes acquired from the mother help to optimally train an infant’s naïve immune system, teaching it to correctly identify what is friend and what is foe. This early learning connects the gut and brain in complex ways needed for optimal immune health in the baby. They help break down food to provide energy and limit harmful bacteria. They maintain gut barrier integrity, keeping harmful substances out of the blood and reducing inflammation
Birth by cesarean section interferes with the ‘main seeding event’ for the newborn’s microbiome. A baby born by cesarean will not acquire the full complement of the mother’s vaginal and gut microbes, and could also be negatively impacted by antibiotics used due to surgery—and both sadly have ramifications for lifelong health. It is so important not to resort to a cesarean birth unless medically necessary, but if a cesarean is medically necessary the baby can still receive some of their mother's microbiome through other sources such as breastmilk.
After birth,breastfeeding gives the growing baby more good seeding of their microbiome. As well as delivering the perfect nutrition, immune components, antibodies, over 700 species of microbes, and other living ingredients, breast milk also contains human milk oligosaccharides.These special carbohydrates (made of simple sugars) feed the baby’s healthy gut microbiome encouraging the good bacteria to flourish.
Since the mother’s microbes are passed to her child during vaginal birth and breastfeeding, expectant and new mothers need to look after their microbes. It is key they eat a diverse range of fresh fruit and vegetables, including fermented and high-fiber foods, and avoid antibacterial products and (as possible) antibiotics. It is best to limit processed foods that lack a strong matrix in their cell walls and thus do not effectively transport food to their microbiome.
Sometimes infant formula is needed. But if it is a choice—before considering switching to formula—know that formula is a processed food and lacks many of the benefits of breastmilk. If you decide to formula feed, stay empowered to avoid bad bacteria—make sure everyone helping understands the importance of following guidelines for preparing formula, storing unused formula, and proper clearing of bottles and nipples. [To ensure the best for a formula-fed baby, it is key to follow the exact instructions and avoid plastic bottles (which when heated leach plastics into the formula).]
In summary, the baby’s first meeting with the microbial world is through the placenta. Then, a vaginal birth provides the major seeding of the baby’s microbiome—so ideally cesearean is chosen only for valid medical reasons. After birth, every baby receives their first embrace from their mother which is like a group hug from her skin microbiome. Additionally, breastmilk is actually a creamy, good bacterial seeding that strengthens the baby’s immune system. For all babies, regular skin-to-skin contact exposes the baby to more good bacteria, enhances bonding, and helps mom-baby relax.
Further research is essential on the placental microbiota and maternal-fetal diseases, as well as what we can do to best support a baby’s optimal development and health from the moment of birth.Early childbirth preparation and breastfeeding education sets families up to learn and give the best to their newborns.
For now, we can be confident that the way nature empowered women to carry children and birth naturally, hold their babies, and breastfeed aligns exactly with what the most evidence-based science on childbirth and newborn care says! That tells us—we can trust mother-baby to find the best way to good health!
Are you a new parent wanting the best for your baby? Education and confidence to know what is best for your baby is essential. Join our online childbirth prep immersion or find a class near you. Are you a birth professional seeking more to help families you work with? Join our workshops or certifications for in-depth training. Reach us to chat: contact us or email info@birthworks.org.
References
Azad MB, Konya T, Persaud RR, Guttman DS, Chari RS, Field CJ, Sears MR, Mandhane PJ, Turvey SE, Subbarao P, Becker AB, Scott JA, Kozyrskyj AL, CHILD Study Investigators. Impact of maternal intrapartum antibiotics, method of birth and breastfeeding on gut microbiota during the first year of life: a prospective cohort study. BJOG: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology. 2016; 123(6): 983-993.
Dietert, Rodney R., and Janice M. Dietert. “The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human-Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases.” Entropy 14 (2012): 2036–65, doi:10.3390/e14112036.
Churkan, Robynne MD. The Microbiome Solution: A Radical New Way to Heal Your Body from the Inside Out. Avery Publishing, NY. August 2015. P. 4.
Collado. “Human gut colonisation may be initiated in utero by distinct microbial communities in the placenta and amniotic fluid” MariaCarmen Collado1,2, Samuli Rautava, JuhaniAakko, Erika Isolauri & Seppo Salminen1 Scientific Reports. 2016"Collado 2016 microbiota placenta amniotic fluid.pdf" document
Greger, Michael MD, How Not To Age, Flatiron Books, 2023. NY pages 54-56.
Harman, Toni and Wakeford, Alex. Your Baby’s Microbiome: The Critical Role of Vaginal Birth and Breastfeeding for Lifelong Health. Chelsea Green Publishing, VT. 2017. P. 25
McLean, Marion Toepke, Midwifery Today, Issue 120, Winter 2016
Noel T. Mueller, Elizabeth Bakacs, Joan Combellick, Zoya Grigoryan, and Maria G. Dominguez-Bello, “The Infant Microbiome Development: Mom Matters,” Trends in Molecular Medicine 21, no. 2 (January 8, 2015): 109–17, doi:10.1016/j. Molmed.2014.12.002.
Tuominena et al, 2019 “ Composition and maternal origin of the neonatal oral cavity microbiota, Journal of Oral Microbiology.2019, VOL. 11, 1663084 https://doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2019.1663084
Xie et al. “Unveiling the placental bacterial microbiota: implications for maternal and infant health,” Zhuojun Xie1, Zhongsheng Chen, Yang Chai, Wang Yao and Guangyu Ma, Frontiers in Physiology 2003 13. 10.3389/fphys.2025.1544216 March 14, 2025. Frontiersin.orgYang et all 2024 “The Influence of placenta microbiota of normal term pregnant women on immune regulation during pregnancy Ping Yang1 , Tong Lu2 , Xinyuan Liang3 , Ting Huang4 , Lulu Wu4 , Zonglin He5 , Xiaomin Xiao4* and Shangrong Fan, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 24:171 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06353-x.
Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin are times that establish the baby’s best health! They provide essential exposure to their mother’s microbiome.
The microbiome is a microscopic community formed by all hundred trillion forms of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and their genes, living in every nook and cranny, inside of us and around us in the water, soil, and air. For humans, the microbiome plays an essential role in digestion and metabolism. Research reveals that the gut bacteria micro-ecosystem is especially key to long-term health and wellness. It is integral to a strong immune system, providing essential cells that fine-tune our body’s response to threats.
The mother’s microbiome builds the baby’s microbiome.During pregnancy, it even changes, helping the baby’s gut receive beneficial bacteria at birth! The process of colonization of our microbiome is now known to be a natural and steady one in the fetus. Since placentas have specific microorganisms, they are not sterile at birth. Babies have already been receiving the mother’s microbiome in the womb—through the oral, vaginal, and intestinal microbiota through the placenta—preparing the baby for life in the outside world.
Significantly, the major seeding of the baby’s microbiome occurs during their passage through the birth canal. As soon as the waters break, the baby is exposed to vaginal microbes in the birth canal. Then, more microbes are acquired from contact with her fecal microbiota (poop) when born, then from skin-to-skin and breastfeeding, and with every touch and every breath.
Microbes acquired from the mother help to optimally train an infant’s naïve immune system, teaching it to correctly identify what is friend and what is foe. This early learning connects the gut and brain in complex ways needed for optimal immune health in the baby. They help break down food to provide energy and limit harmful bacteria. They maintain gut barrier integrity, keeping harmful substances out of the blood and reducing inflammation
Birth by cesarean section interferes with the ‘main seeding event’ for the newborn’s microbiome. A baby born by cesarean will not acquire the full complement of the mother’s vaginal and gut microbes, and could also be negatively impacted by antibiotics used due to surgery—and both sadly have ramifications for lifelong health. It is so important not to resort to a cesarean birth unless medically necessary, but if a cesarean is medically necessary the baby can still receive some of their mother’s microbiome through other sources such as breastmilk.
After birth,breastfeeding gives the growing baby more good seeding of their microbiome. As well as delivering the perfect nutrition, immune components, antibodies, over 700 species of microbes, and other living ingredients, breast milk also contains human milk oligosaccharides.These special carbohydrates (made of simple sugars) feed the baby’s healthy gut microbiome encouraging the good bacteria to flourish.
Since the mother’s microbes are passed to her child during vaginal birth and breastfeeding, expectant and new mothers need to look after their microbes. It is key they eat a diverse range of fresh fruit and vegetables, including fermented and high-fiber foods, and avoid antibacterial products and (as possible) antibiotics. It is best to limit processed foods that lack a strong matrix in their cell walls and thus do not effectively transport food to their microbiome.
Sometimes infant formula is needed. But if it is a choice—before considering switching to formula—know that formula is a processed food and lacks many of the benefits of breastmilk. If you decide to formula feed, stay empowered to avoid bad bacteria—make sure everyone helping understands the importance of following guidelines for preparing formula, storing unused formula, and proper clearing of bottles and nipples. [To ensure the best for a formula-fed baby, it is key to follow the exact instructions and avoid plastic bottles (which when heated leach plastics into the formula).]
In summary, the baby’s first meeting with the microbial world is through the placenta. Then, a vaginal birth provides the major seeding of the baby’s microbiome—so ideally cesearean is chosen only for valid medical reasons. After birth, every baby receives their first embrace from their mother which is like a group hug from her skin microbiome. Additionally, breastmilk is actually a creamy, good bacterial seeding that strengthens the baby’s immune system. For all babies, regular skin-to-skin contact exposes the baby to more good bacteria, enhances bonding, and helps mom-baby relax.
Further research is essential on the placental microbiota and maternal-fetal diseases, as well as what we can do to best support a baby’s optimal development and health from the moment of birth.Early childbirth preparation and breastfeeding education sets families up to learn and give the best to their newborns.
For now, we can be confident that the way nature empowered women to carry children and birth naturally, hold their babies, and breastfeed aligns exactly with what the most evidence-based science on childbirth and newborn care says! That tells us—we can trust mother-baby to find the best way to good health!
Are you a new parent wanting the best for your baby? Education and confidence to know what is best for your baby is essential. Join our online childbirth prep immersion or find a class near you. Are you a birth professional seeking more to help families you work with? Join our workshops or certifications for in-depth training. Reach us to chat: contact us or email info@birthworks.org.
References
Azad MB, Konya T, Persaud RR, Guttman DS, Chari RS, Field CJ, Sears MR, Mandhane PJ, Turvey SE, Subbarao P, Becker AB, Scott JA, Kozyrskyj AL, CHILD Study Investigators. Impact of maternal intrapartum antibiotics, method of birth and breastfeeding on gut microbiota during the first year of life: a prospective cohort study. BJOG: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology. 2016; 123(6): 983-993.
Dietert, Rodney R., and Janice M. Dietert. “The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human-Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases.” Entropy 14 (2012): 2036–65, doi:10.3390/e14112036.
Churkan, Robynne MD. The Microbiome Solution: A Radical New Way to Heal Your Body from the Inside Out. Avery Publishing, NY. August 2015. P. 4.
Collado. “Human gut colonisation may be initiated in utero by distinct microbial communities in the placenta and amniotic fluid” MariaCarmen Collado1,2, Samuli Rautava, JuhaniAakko, Erika Isolauri & Seppo Salminen1 Scientific Reports. 2016″Collado 2016 microbiota placenta amniotic fluid.pdf” document
Greger, Michael MD, How Not To Age, Flatiron Books, 2023. NY pages 54-56.
Harman, Toni and Wakeford, Alex. Your Baby’s Microbiome: The Critical Role of Vaginal Birth and Breastfeeding for Lifelong Health. Chelsea Green Publishing, VT. 2017. P. 25
McLean, Marion Toepke, Midwifery Today, Issue 120, Winter 2016
Noel T. Mueller, Elizabeth Bakacs, Joan Combellick, Zoya Grigoryan, and Maria G. Dominguez-Bello, “The Infant Microbiome Development: Mom Matters,” Trends in Molecular Medicine 21, no. 2 (January 8, 2015): 109–17, doi:10.1016/j. Molmed.2014.12.002.
Tuominena et al, 2019 “ Composition and maternal origin of the neonatal oral cavity microbiota, Journal of Oral Microbiology.2019, VOL. 11, 1663084 https://doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2019.1663084
Xie et al. “Unveiling the placental bacterial microbiota: implications for maternal and infant health,” Zhuojun Xie1, Zhongsheng Chen, Yang Chai, Wang Yao and Guangyu Ma, Frontiers in Physiology 2003 13. 10.3389/fphys.2025.1544216 March 14, 2025. Frontiersin.orgYang et all 2024 “The Influence of placenta microbiota of normal term pregnant women on immune regulation during pregnancy Ping Yang1 , Tong Lu2 , Xinyuan Liang3 , Ting Huang4 , Lulu Wu4 , Zonglin He5 , Xiaomin Xiao4* and Shangrong Fan, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 24:171 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06353-x.
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