🤔Ask The Expert: Can a C-section birth really affect your baby’s gut health and immunity?

It's never too late! We can help to boost our newborn's immunity by taking the necessary immunisations prior to delivery. This will ensure passive immunity for 6 to 12 months from the time baby is born. Vaccinating your baby as per the National Immunisation Schedule will also help to boost your baby’s immunity. In addition, post delivery, breast feeding, early skin-to-skin and probiotics will help to promote good gut health for baby born via caesarean which will in turn improve baby’s immunity. Only use antibiotics when necessary. Antibiotics are important to fight bacterial infections. However, they can wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad ones, negatively impacting gut health.

Early skin-to-skin for babies born via normal vaginal delivery and caesarean born can help in the transfer of beneficial microbes to the newborn.

A baby's gut microbiome continues to change and evolve as they grow and develop different lifestyles and dietary habits. By the time a child is 3 years old, his/her microbiome will stabilize and resemble an adult-gut microbiome.

An imbalance in the gut microbiome is increasingly recognised as a significant factor in the development of allergies in children. A diverse and balanced gut microbiome can control or prevent allergies such as eczema, asthma, and food allergies.

Antibiotics can wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad ones, negatively impacting gut health of both mother and child. However, antibiotics are important for fighting bacterial infections and should be used if medically indicated. Gut health can be improved or restored post-delivery.

Good gut health promotes growth and development, boosts immunity and prevents diseases as well as lowers the risk of development of allergic disease such as asthma and eczema. Some signs of poor gut health include abdominal discomfort (eg: feeling bloated, gassy, tummyaches), poor bowel movements (constipation), diarrhoea, poor mood, fatigue, weight problems (failure to thrive or obesity) and allergies and food sensitivities.

Good gut health promotes growth and development, boosts immunity and prevents diseases as well as lowers the risk of development of allergic disease such as asthma and eczema. Some signs of poor gut health include abdominal discomfort (eg: feeling bloated, gassy, tummyaches), poor bowel movements (constipation), diarrhoea, poor mood, fatigue, weight problems (failure to thrive or obesity) and allergies and food sensitivities.

Babies born via normal vaginal delivery have a more mature immune system in early life due to the exposure to the beneficial microbes in the mother's birth canal and the stress of labour which "kick-starts" their immune system. The good microbes in the birth canal colonizes the baby's gut, forming the foundation of healthy gut. In comparison, babies born via caesarian do not have the same exposure and therefore will have a different, potentially weaker gut microbiome which may negatively affect the development of their immune system.

Good gut health promotes growth and development, boosts immunity and prevents diseases as well as lowers the risk of development of allergic disease such as asthma and eczema. Some signs of poor gut health include abdominal discomfort (eg: feeling bloated, gassy, tummyaches), poor bowel movements (constipation), diarrhoea, poor mood, fatigue, weight problems (failure to thrive or obesity) and allergies and food sensitivities.