Health
Breast Milk and Cuddling Gives Healthy Bacteria to C-Section Babies
- Study says C-section babies may not miss out on vital microbes
- 120 mother-infant pairs took part in study published Wednesday
Photographer: Catherine Delahaye/Stone RF/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
Mothers can help babies born via a cesarean section restore healthy bacteria to their systems by breastfeeding and cuddling them, a new study shows.
More than half of a baby’s microbiomes are derived from its mother during birth but infants delivered via surgery get fewer microbes than those born naturally. Breastfeeding can help compensate for that by delivering good bacteria which is essential in helping to build immunity and fight infections, according to the study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe on Wednesday.