According to a New York Times article, “In a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers led by Anita Kozyrskyj found that babies born by C-Section vaginally, and that infants who were breast-fed had a different recipe of bacteria in their guts than those who were given formula.”
And when it comes to health, specifically digestive heath and the immune system, it is the bacteria, or bugs, that count.
Studies have long shown that children who have been delivered by C-Section have greater risks of certain illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes and obesity, as do children who were formula fed. While the connection has been known, it has been unclear as to why, although the presence of “good” bacteria had been suspected.
Through collected stool samples from the dirty diapers of 24 three-month-old babies, the researchers found different bacteria in babies who delivered vaginally versus by C-Section, and breast-fed versus formula fed.
It is believed that babies who are delivered vaginally and those who are breastfed receive good bacteria that helps immunize them for life. Vaginally delivered infants receive the bacteria as they travel through the birth canal, and breastfed babies receive it through their mother’s breast milk. Formula fed babies, in particular, receive other bacteria that may overwhelm the seed of any good bacteria the child did receive.
It is important to note that the study only compared the different kinds of bacteria found, and while this implies that this bacteria is linked to a child’s health, additional research still needs to be conducted to link the presence or absence of certain bacteria to the risk of actual illnesses and conditions, such asthma, diabetes or obesity.
While these studies may help parents make decisions about elective C-Sections and baby feeding, parents should note that other risk factors, such as genetics and environment may also play roles in their child’s health.