Sharing - Inside the Growing Practice of 'Seeding' Babies Born Via C-Section

~ Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 12:05 AM ~

I came across an article, which I find interesting and upon further searches on Google, decided to share it with you guys as I'm very interested to know your thoughts on this. For your convenience, I have copied the excerpts from the article here:

Seeding Babies Born Via C-Section

"Babies born via C-section may be more prone to allergies and other issues because they miss out on vital microbes in mom’s birth canal — but a practice called “seeding” aims to make up for that.

Seems like there’s a new hip, must-try birth practice unveiled with regularity these days — hypnobirthing, placenta eating, delayed umbilical-cord clamping — and now, for women having C-sections, “seeding,” or the practice of swabbing a newborn with healthy bacteria collected from mom’s vagina to reap a host of health benefits.

So what’s it all about? Preliminary scientific research has shown health differences between babies born vaginally and by C-section — with those removed surgically being more prone to allergies, diabetes, asthma, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and other conditions, possibly because they don’t get coated in mom’s birth-canal fluids, which include a healthy dose of bacteria.

Trillions of microbes, collectively called microbiome by scientists, reside in our bodies — on the skin or in the gut, mouth, or vagina, where their presence plays a vital role in human health but can lead to health problems when they are out of balance or deficient. It’s why newborns who don’t get to pass through the estimated 300 to 400 species of microbes in mom’s vagina may be at a health disadvantage, according to Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello, a microbiologist at New York University School of Medicine who is at the forefront of research about seeding. She recently studied 21 babies in Puerto Rico and found that swab seeding positively affected the microbiome in newborns."

 

I personally feel this is great news! Okay, granted, some may think I have no rights to comment this since I have no experience in C-sections but having read articles about babies are baptized to the world of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens as they pass through the birth canal, how C-section infants don’t get enough good microbes and more, I think this 'seeding' method sounds awesome!

 How does it work you wonder?

"requests for “seeding” – in which a swab soaked in vaginal fluid is put in the newborn’s mouth and wiped across their body immediately after birth – are on the rise."


I read in some articles that the thought of how this was done was quite gross but I personally feel it is no difference from how a baby was born vaginally. Babies inhale and swallowed whatever liquid, discharge, bacterias etc while in womb and while being birthed so what's the gross thing about this seeding method? I would think it this method helps to transfer some good bacterias from mums to babies, why not?

How about you? What do you think?


Sources:

* Inside the Growing Practice of 'Seeding' Babies Born Via C-Section

* Would you ‘seed’ your baby? The surprising post-birth trend on the rise that sees mothers who have C-sections bathe newborns in vaginal fluid

* Seeding: The new birth trend that's all about bacteria

* The Way You’re Born Can Mess With the Microbes You Need to Survive


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Random Act of Kindness

~ Posted on Friday, July 18, 2014 at 8:07 AM ~

We were out for our family dinner when our 2.5 years old Alyson suddenly wanted to go to the restroom to pee. I took her to the restroom in the restaurant and the moment we walked into the aisle towards the restroom section, I saw a pregnant lady waiting for her turn outside the female's restroom. There is only 1 room for female and 1 room for male.

I thought of asking the lady whether we could jump queue seeing our girl is getting restless (she really needs to pee) but I looked at the heavily pregnant lady and remembered I used to be like that - 3 times... and every single time I wanted to use the public restroom when I was pregnant, was kinda urgent and if I have to go, I have to go. I mean, if you have been pregnant, you would certainly know that our bladder can't store much pee when your baby is pressing heavily on you as you get into the later pregnancy stage.

Yes, I do know that little children's bladder are small too and they can't control their pee long but looking on at the pregnant lady and remembering back my pregnancies experiences, I hesitated asking the pregnant lady. And so I carried our girl and gently whispered to her to hold her pee, I kept distracting her so she won't think about her strong urge to pee until her turn to use the restroom.

Then the person in the female's restroom got out and I told myself 'Okay, okay, we just gotta wait through this pregnant lady and prays I won't get peed on so fast!' when suddenly, the pregnant lady looked at me and said 'You guys go first!'

Oh my...

I am stunned.

What a random act of kindness.

Unexpected.

Totally and deeply appreciated.

I thanked her profusely and quickly brought our girl in and helped her out. All done in less than 1 minute.

When we got out, I thanked the pregnant lady again for her kindness.

May God bless her and her loved ones!

** Further reading:

  • Luke 6:38 (NIV) ~ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

  • Colossians 3:12 (NIV) ~ Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

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Shorter Time Between Pregnancies Linked To Earlier Delivery

~ Posted on Monday, June 23, 2014 at 7:41 AM ~

"Women who become pregnant again within 18 months after having a baby are more likely to deliver early, according to a new study. Past reports have also linked having a short interpregnancy interval with a greater risk of premature birth.

The findings suggest a short interpregnancy interval is also linked to the risk of a baby being born a week or two early, though not technically premature. These early term births at 37 and 38 weeks of gestation (full term is 39 to 40 weeks) can have a negative impact on a newborn’s health.

Waiting could help mothers manage their weight and stay healthy and also benefit their earlier child’s health and wellbeing. "

When I came across this article, I can't help but to compare against my records.

1st kiddo - I was pregnant at 39 weeks+ before I delivered naturally.
2nd kiddo - I was pregnant at 38 weeks+ before I delivered naturally. Gap between 1st and 2nd kiddo is 2.5 years.
3rd kiddo - I was pregnant at 38 weeks+ before I delivered naturally. Gap between 2nd and 3rd kiddo is 2 years.

Although our kiddos' gap were between 2 to 2.5 years, based on my records, my labours were getting shorter.

How about yours?

(Source: Reuters UK)

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