2023-07-25 17:00:00
Scheduled or performed in an emergency, caesareans are indicated in 20.4% of births in France. As necessary as it is to give birth, this delivery can impact the development of toddlers who are then deprived of the immune protection allowed by exposure to the vaginal microbiota.
Concretely, cesarean section disrupts the transfer of microbiota from mother to child, which leads to an alteration of the immune system and a predisposition to allergies, obesity and intestinal inflammation.
What complications?
In adulthood, the imbalance of the intestinal microbiota, otherwise known as dysbiosis, increases the risk of asthma, allergy, type 1 diabetes and obesity.
To better understand this mechanism, specialists from the National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRAE) conducted a study on this subject, in collaboration with the University of Paris-Saclay. This team observed this phenomenon with young mice born by caesarean section. In toddler rodents, in adulthood, “excessive stimulation of the intestine, which induces a modification of the structure of the mucosa and an inflammatory reaction”, was detected.
Possible treatments?
In the same study, scientists were able to confirm the effectiveness of lactobacilli supplements. These bacteria present naturally in the intestine contribute to the balance of the intestinal flora. Within the study, they came to reinforce the effectiveness of the immune system of the young mice.
In humans, the so-called vaginal seeding technique consists of dabbing the newborn’s body with a gauze pad soaked in the mother’s vaginal secretions. Performed just following birth, this method accelerates the maturation process of intestinal bacteria in newborns, increases the concentration of Lactobacillus bacteria and increases bacterial diversity.
Lactobacillus are also found in breast milk: breastfeeding, if possible, can therefore strengthen the immune system of babies born by caesarean section. Industrial milks enriched with human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are also beneficial.
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