Breastfeeding and a Vaginal Birth Could Keep Your Newborn Healthier, Study Says
Photo: Thinkstock / The BumpA new study led by Anita Kozyrskyj, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that babies born by C-section had a different set of microbes in their digestive tracts than babies who were born vaginally. Additionally, the study also determined that breastfed babies had a different makeup of bacteria in their bodies than other babies who were fed via formula.
The study author, Kozyrskyj, said that her team of researchers goal was to show that a “decision about elective C-sections may cause changes that parents can’t see but nevertheless affect development.” That is to say — these ‘bugs’ that live in babies help digest food are different, depending on whether or not baby was born vaginally or via C-section, was nursed or fed via formula.
Researchers studied 24 babies and compared the bacteria found in baby poop samples collected when each infant was just 3 months old. They knew, prior to the study, that C-section deliveries could result in a higher risk of asthma, diabetes, cancer and even obesity, but they didn’t know how. Their recent work suggests that at least part of that risk may be due to the microbes forming inside baby.
Here’s how they did it:
Through vaginal delivery, babies are welcomed to the world of bacteria and viruses because they pass through the birth canal — their birth serves at their first informal immunization. As they pass through, the pick up the microbial content of their mothers and as they continue to develop (and age), they distinguish between bacterial friend and foe. Alternatively, babies born through Cesarean section, skip the “immunization,” leaving them more susceptible to bacteria. During the course of the study, researchers found that babies born by C-section had fewer forms of the bacteria known as Escherichia and Shigella. Kozyrskyj (the study author) says that these two forms are known as “seeding species” and they lay the building blocks for the next groups of microbes. They are also critical species that help a baby’s immune system decipher between good and bad bacteria. Though she says that they are still learning about the order of the microbes, Kozyrskyj believes that “if there is an order, then timing is important.”
The study concluded similar findings for breastfeeding. Formula-fed babies, the research shows, have more Peptostreptococcaceae bacteria and Clostridium difficile (which causes diarrhea and other unpleasant side effects in adults), while breastfed babies do not.
And though these findings are critical for researchers, their work is far from finished. Kozyrskyj plans to connect these changes in bacteria abundance to childhood conditions — searching for more answers as to what causes these afflictions. She said, “The next step is to link these changes to childhood conditions and assess whether these children have different risks for diseases, how severe their conditions are and what the patterns of these diseases are.”
Were these findings shocking for you?
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Top 10 Health Benefits of Breastfeeding
All Your New Mom Questions — and Answers!
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The Nest Blog
Fascinating research. It certainly makes sense that a breastfed baby’s intestinal bacterial profile would differ from that of a formula-fed infant because they are provided with their mother’s antibodies. Intestinal health plays such a vital role in immunity and it is no wonder that the benefits of breastfeeding are so lasting. It is interesting to see these differences between babies born vaginally versus via C-section, especially with the recent trend of women opting for C-sections for non-medical reasons. It just strengthens the notion that every seemingly minor decision we make during pregnancy can have long-term effects on our child.
this is just another study that makes moms who want to nurse and can’t feel guilty or ones that wanted a vaginal birth but needed a c-section feel guilty
Amen sister! My 5 month old c section (cpd) and bottle fed baby (milk never came in) is just perfect!
This research can also help to identify why these things happen, which means they may be able to prevent them or provide supplements to prevent the long-term effects; I wouldn’t automatically jump on the “thanks for isolating moms who can’t breastfeed or need c-sections”, because the fact is that many women “choose” these as options.
It is more directed towards all those who choose a C-section because they don’t want to be in labor and/or do not care about breastfeeding the son and just get formula cause its easier.
Correct. And as I fit both of those categories, I’m not impressed.
I agree with that!!
I’m pretty sure that’s not the purpose of the study.
Exactly my thoughts.
i appreciate the continued research on these topics, but this article and the research seem quite vague. c sections “could” be the cause of higher risk of certain diseases, and the research “suggests” that “at least part” of this is due to microbes and bacteria? and the findings with breastfeeding is nothing new- they found a different kind of bacteria in formula fed babies, but fail to mention that these bacterias can occur in any human for various reasons. i also do not find anything in this article that suggests breastfed and vaginally delivered newborns are actually healthier.. all i see is information about different kinds of bacteria, who has them, and who doesn’t. then the ridiculous quote regarding timing of when bacteria is introcuded to newborns: ““if there is an order, then timing is important.” IF? i urge everyone reading this to pay attention to the operative words here. this kind of reporting is irresponsible and an insult.
yea i dont give for this study i had no choice but to have two c section forcing for a 3 and i couldnt breast feed, way to make moms who have absolutely no control feel worse! thanks
yea I don’t agree with this study. My son(7) who was born via c-section(due to medical reasons) and was formula fed hardly ever gets sick and has only had to go to hospital 2x in his whole life so far. His stepsister(9) who was born vaginally and breastfed is always sick and gets infections very easily. Seems like she goes to the dr. about every other month for something. While this study might show the effects when the infant is still an infant the way a child responds to diseases and other illnesses later in life is not based on whether or not they were formula fed, breast fed, born vaginally or born via c-section.
My baby was born via c-section because she was breech and eats formula because of medical reasons for me.. ( I take medication that can passed through breast milk to her ) So are you saying she is screwed? Don’t think so! She is healthy and the happiest baby I have ever seen!
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-infant-formula-ingredients-boost-babies.html
i personally think this should b removed off this web site. just my opinion
I don’t think the intent of this article was to make anyone feel guilty. We all do what we can as mothers, so don’t feel any less if you formula feed or had a c section, especially if it wasn’t your choice to do either.
I know they probably didn’t intent to make anybody feel bad, but they are dealing with new moms here, you know, hormones and tears and fear to fail etc.. I agree with Kristal that we could do without this article..
i also heard it was said that baby’s who were breast fed did better in school than kids who were fed with formula.
This study wasn’t done to make anyone feel bad; the research is research — it’s unbiased and without negative intent. Its only intent is to educate and provide information. At no point does it say “if you did not do this or were unable to, you are a bad mother,” it only provided objective conclusions based on facts. We all do the best we can and shouldn’t take this as a personal attack.
This article lacks sufficient information to support the claim of it’s subject line. “Breastfeeding and a Vaginal Birth Could Keep Your Newborn Healthier, Study Says”- after reading the article, I find no such information to support this statement. Even the last quote from the research team states, “The next step is to link these changes to childhood conditions and assess whether these children have different risks for diseases, how severe their conditions are and what the patterns of these diseases are.” So basically all they did was find out that among a whopping 24 test subjects, some formula fed / c-section delivered babies had different bacteria. There is absolutely no evidence that this bacteria is linked to cancer, obesity, asthma, or diabetes. This article is useless.
Its interesting information. I don’t think it was intended as a jab to women who couldn’t vaginally deliver or breastfeed for medical reasons. Rather, it serves as motivation for women that have a choice.
My son was born 2 months early and weighed 3 lbs. he was delivered by emergency c section. He was also fed formula since birth. My son is now 13 years old and is and has always been healthy, he never so much as has the flu, let alone any health problems. He is one year younger then all the kids in his grade and is just as tall or taller then all of them. He is super funny and smart and has even been on the honor roll.
I don’t understand the response to this research. There is no reason to feel guilty and that is not the purpose of this article. The story specifically addressed “ELECTIVE C-sections.” Those that are NOT medically necessary. And information about breastfeeding should be spread, not to make those who can’t or choose not to feel guilty, but because it is important health and nutritional information that new moms need. If you chose to have a c-section and formula feed or were unable to breastfeed, feel confident in your decision. But, don’t limit information for future moms because you don’t want to hear it because it makes you feel guitly.
Very interesting! The correlations definitely make sense. Not to mention vaginal births and breastfeeding cost far less.
No one should feel guilty about what they can’t do unless they are the cause, but they certainly should feel guilty about what they won’t do especially if their choice has negative consequences.
This study had a sample of 24 babies in it. There is no way anything from this study can be extrapolated.
This study wasn’t done to make anyone feel bad; the research is research — it’s unbiased and without negative intent. Its only intent is to educate and provide information
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[...] In a previous study, researchers concluded that vaginally-delivered babies are already exposed to more maternal bacteria as they traveled through the birth [...]