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Does a C-section affect the baby’s immune system?
The natural birth process can be messy, stressful, and long remembered by both moms and dads. However, there is an unexplained link between decreasing rates of vaginal delivery and increasing rates of chronic inflammatory and metabolic disease ∈ children growing up ∈ today’s world.
Nowadays, 20% of Cesarean sections performed worldwide have no medical justification. Although often preferred by both patients and obstetricians, Cesarean sections are not risk-free and might have a hidden impact on the baby immune system.
During the natural birth process, the baby is exposed to microorganisms from the mother. This normal exposure process has been connected to healthy gut microbiome growth, further affecting baby immune system development. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether disruption of the exposure process occurring during cesarean section affects gut microbiome formation ∈ neonates.
A recent study published ∈Nature Communications determined whether the mode of delivery does affect the baby immune system. The researchers examined stool samples taken one to five days after the birth of 33 babies born by either vaginal or cesarean deliveries. They performed an analysis of the genetic material from uncultured microorganisms found ∈ these samples. This method allows the detection of numerous bacterial strains and the evaluation of any differences ∈ bacterial classification among samples.
The study found differences ∈ the microbiome of babies born naturally or by a Cesarean section. Stool samples of babies delivered by Cesarean section lacked the bacteria present ∈ samples taken from naturally born babies. In addition, the researchers extracted an immune stimulating factor called lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the samples. This bacteria-derived substance is known to cause chronic inflammatory disease and metabolic disease ∈ children and adults.
They used extracted LPS to stimulate cultured immune cells and quantifies the expression of several inflammationcausing factors. Interestingly, the study discovered that LPS isolated from stool samples of naturally born babies stimulates higher levels of inflammation-related substances secretion. On the other hand, LPS isolated from stool samples of babies delivered by Cesarean section had lower inflammatory effects.
The results suggest that Cesarean section procedures divert the process of gut microbiome development to alternative pathways. This alteration might underlie the increase ∈ the prevalence of chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases ∈ developed countries.
It seems that the mode of delivery might have lifelong influences on a newborn’s health.
Adaptado de: https://medicalnewsbulletin.com/c-section-babyimmune-system/ Acessado em 02 de março de 2020.
In natural births, babies get ∈ touch with their mothers’ microorganisms, thus their immune system, as compared to C-section babies, should get
