New research: Bacteria do not colonise the infant gut microbiome before birth — it happens during and after birth

Big news in the world of the infant microbiome….

Recent research finds the colonisation of the baby’s gut microbiome STARTS DURING and AFTER birth, and NOT BEFORE.

In the study Kennedy K.M. et al., (10th May, 2021) published in Nature Microbiology, scientists found bacteria was NOT detected in meconium PRIOR to birth.

The scientists included 20 babies born by breech C-section in healthy pregnant women — in this way they avoided the transmission of bacteria from mother to baby that occurs during a vaginal birth.

It was a relatively small study, but this research helps inform the hot scientific debate over whether a baby’s gut is colonised by bacteria whilst developing in the womb.

About meconium

If you’re a midwife, you’ll probably know all about meconium.

Meconium is a thick, green tar-like substance that lines the baby’s gut during pregnancy.

Meconium is usually released as the baby’s first stool after birth. But sometimes the baby will have a bowel movement before birth — which means meconium is found in the amniotic fluid.