From womb to world: Your first microbiome

“Have you ever wondered about the way we’re born and the impact it can have on our health in ways we don’t even consider?”

A question that has often been ignored or, let’s say assumed. Can a small happening make a huge difference in one’s gut and immunity? The joy associated with pregnancy and welcoming a newborn is immeasurable. But what about the mode of delivery – Caesarean OR Vaginal birth? Does this have a chance of impacting one’s life more than just the birth? Or was it just decided that the birth has less or no impact on one’s immunity and gut, but depends totally on the food and lifestyle choices that one is to make while growing up?

What made me ask these many questions? Well, this started from a small project that a lecturer had given us during our master’s degree.  I was around maybe 23 or 24 when I heard about this topic from one of my classmates. The topic was about the differences in Gut microbiota in infants with normal delivery vs C-section. At first, I was just marvelled at how a small thing could greatly influence a substantial part of one’s life, and secondly, I had never heard of this. I enjoy reading research articles, but I was really surprised by how I did not come across such an interesting topic.

He further explains the difference between the modes of childbirth and the microorganisms along with it. He iterates that the microorganisms present in the vaginal delivery were far more beneficial than those derived through C-section. Amazing, isn’t it?