INTERVIEWS

Interview 1: not conducted by myself, but by “The fruit doctor” with Dr Luke Thompson (American Gut Project)

The following question was discussed in the interview: how do CS vs natural childbirth and breastfeeding vs baby formula contribute to the establishment of a healthy infant microbiome:

In his introduction, Dr Thomson stated that birth is a baby’s first exposure to microbes. Interestingly he disclosed that the normal development of the gut community (of a baby born naturally) at first resembles the mother’s vaginal bacterial community then gradually changes over the following two years to resemble the adult faecal bacterial community. But, if the baby was born by CS, the bacterial community initially resembles the skin …show more content…
Vaginal swabbing (only applies to caesarean section)

The concept: this procedure involves swabbing the baby born by CS with their mother’s vaginal fluid to simulate the act of passing through the birth canal and restoring the babies microbiome.

This is a much debated subject.
- Point 1: there is the risk that certain viruses or bacteria, that may cause (for example) chlamydia and genital herpes, is hosted in the mother’s vaginal fluids without anyone’s knowledge. Babies born by C-section are typically spared exposure to those viruses, but the swabbing could reintroduce that risk. “It’s not really right to expect a health professional to do something that isn’t of any proven benefit and may carry a risk of harm,” said Dr. Aubrey Cunnington (an infectious diseases specialist who penned an editorial on the subject published in the British Medical Journal).
- Point 2: research has proven that babies born by CS are more prone to allergies and asthma as well as immune-and-metabolic disorders. Because the concept of vaginal swabbing is so novel, few heard about it, fewer practice it some feel not enough research has been