A procedure called vaginal seeding may help babies born via cesarean section develop healthy microbiomes, despite some health experts warning against the practice, according to NPR.
Here are five things to know:
1. Babies who are born via C-section are not exposed to good bacteria in their mother's birth canal, which can strengthen a baby's own microbiome. In vaginal seeding, clinicians wipe a mother's bacterial fluid on the baby right after a C-section. Some members of the healthcare community refer to the process as a 'bacterial baptism."
"In this case, they get the bacteria and that changes their microbiome," Shira Levy, a microbiome research manager at Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Women's Hospital told NPR. "This is their first microbiome experience."
2. The U.S. has experienced a large spike in C-sections over the past few years, which correlates to a higher prevalence of The working theory suggests this increase may be due to fewer babies gaining exposure to their mothers' microbes via vaginal births.
"We think that one of the reasons that babies born by C-section are at increased risk for these diseases is because they don't receive that first beneficial exposure to their mother's vaginal microbiome," Suchitra Hourigan, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Health System, told NPR.
3. A small 2016 study published in Nature indicated swabbing C-section babies with their mother's microbes right after birth could help the infants develop microbiomes similar to those of babies born naturally.
4. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, along with other medical groups, urge expecting mothers to avoid vaginal seeding, as harmful bacteria could be transferred to babies through the practice. The group said mothers already transfer microbes to newborns through skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding.
"While there [is] data to suggest that there may be some scientific plausibility to the concept, it is not without significant risks," Neil Silverman, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the UCLA School of Medicine who represents ACOG, told NPR.
5. Inova Health System is participating in the first FDA-approved clinical trial to analyze the safety and efficacy of vaginal seeding, which will follow babies for three years to see if they develop any adverse health effects or become obese..
"Just to be able to reduce one risk factor for obesity, especially when there are such high [C-section rates] in the U.S., would be huge," Dr. Hourigan, who is involved with the study, told NPR.
More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Complaint alleges Tennessee hospital ignored NICU safety, staffing concerns
Viewpoint: How hospitals can use online reviews to improve patient care
New Jersey hospital appoints infection specialist after 4 NICU patients contract bacterial infections