Natural birth and baby's health
There has been a lot of talk, and continues to talk, about the advantages and benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby. There has also been a lot of talk about the advantages of vaginal birth compared to cesarean, especially for the faster recovery. But apparently, a study reveals an important link between natural childbirth and baby's health.
In this article
- Giving birth naturally has advantages
- Natural childbirth makes babies less sick
- Childbirth exposes you to bacteria
Giving birth naturally has advantages
Although natural childbirth is scary because it is painful, long and tiring, those who have tried both the vaginal and the caesarean section do not have many doubts: better give birth naturally, because it recovers much faster. The caesarean in fact it is a surgical operation that can bring with it many aftermaths, which is why it should represent the last choice and be practiced only when the life of the mother or child is in danger. At one time it was even said that those who had given birth by caesarean could not breastfeed, fortunately it was proven wrong. However, research reveals that there are benefits of natural childbirth also for the unborn child and not just for the mother.
Read also: Urgent Caesarean: when and why
Natural childbirth makes babies less sick
A study by the University of Pisa and published on Frontier in Cellular and Infection Microbiology has in fact shown that the bacterial flora with which the baby comes into contact during birth via the vagina is capable of developing defenses especially to protect the airways.
44 women participated in the research, all of them primipare and with no history of infectious diseases. In all of these giving birth, the breaking of the waters occurred 12 hours before delivery and all the infants were born at full term. Of these, 28 were born with vaginal deliveries, 16 with planned caesarean sections.
Childbirth exposes you to bacteria
The newborns underwent nasal and pharyngeal aspiration within ten minutes of birth, as is usually done to clear the airways. Only later the product of the aspiration was analyzed to evaluate its content, thus discovering the presence of certain bacteria. The study therefore demonstrated a different composition of microbiome in the airways of the newborn at birth.
In essence, this exposure would have a protective effect on the fetus, particularly as regards the development of the intestinal microbiome, greatly reducing the risk of allergic diseases or metabolic pathologies in the development of the child.
The study, carried out by Professor Emilia Ghelardi and Professor Paolo Mannella, confirms the policy of reducing caesarean sections, demonstrating another notable advantage of natural childbirth that allows correct colonization by the microbiota and ensuring primary protection for the child already during childbirth.
Another step forward to favor, whenever possible, the Natural childbirth compared to the caesarean. And also to convince all those mothers who are afraid of giving birth naturally.
SOURCES
Delivery Mode Shapes the Composition of the Lower Airways Microbiota in Newborns
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- health and children
