Is it good to do 'Vaginal Seeding' after a cesarean section? Let's find out the truth.

Are you a mother who is expecting a baby by C-section? Or have you already had a baby by C-section? Then you may have heard about the new buzzword 'Vaginal Seeding'. Maybe a friend of yours has mentioned it, or you may have seen it on the internet. So what exactly does it mean? Is it good for the baby? Or is it something that could be unknowingly putting the baby's life at risk? Let's talk about it in simple terms to clear up any doubts you may have about it.

Simply put, what is 'Vaginal Seeding'?

This is very simple. Immediately after the baby is delivered by cesarean section, some of the mother's vaginal secretions are taken and applied to the baby's mouth, face, and body. This is called 'vaginal seeding.' Another name for this is 'microbial seeding.'

This is usually done like this: Before the C-section, the doctor places a clean piece of gauze in the mother's vagina. After a while, the gauze absorbs vaginal discharge. Then, as soon as the baby is born, the baby is wiped with the gauze.

Why are people tempted to do something like this?

To understand the idea behind this, we need to know about some of the little friends in our bodies. They are the "good" bacteria that are beneficial to our bodies. We call this collection of bacteria and microorganisms the "microbiome." These good bacteria help us digest food, protect us from disease, and strengthen our immune system .

Think about it, normally, that is, when a baby is born vaginally, as the baby comes out through the mother's birth canal, it also carries these 'good' bacteria from the mother's vagina with it. This is something that happens naturally. These bacteria are the first to establish a good bacterial colony in the baby's intestines and body.

But when a baby is born by cesarean section, the baby is taken directly out of the uterus, so the baby doesn't get these good bacteria from the mother's vagina. So those who support the 'vaginal seeding' method believe that if babies born by C-section are given those naturally occurring good bacteria, either artificially or through a birth control method, their immunity will be improved and they may be protected from certain diseases (like asthma and allergies) that they may develop in the future.

What are the benefits and serious risks of 'vaginal seeding'?

Before making a decision about anything, it is very important to know the pros and cons of it. Let's look at both of these separately.

What are the benefits you think?

Some researchers believe that vaginal seeding may have some benefits. They say that it may reduce the risk of developing immune-related diseases such as asthma, allergies, and eczema in babies born by C-section.

But, there's a big 'but' to this. Most of the studies that have been done on this are very small. Also, no one knows how long the benefits of this method last. For these reasons, the world's major medical associations do not recommend this method.

Risks that can be really dangerous

This is where we all need to pay the most attention. It's not just 'good' bacteria that live in a mother's vagina. Sometimes, 'bad' bacteria and viruses that can cause serious illnesses can also be present without any symptoms.

A newborn baby's immune system is very weak. They have no ability to fight off these dangerous germs. When we do 'vaginal seeding', we can unknowingly introduce these dangerous germs into the baby's body. This can cause infections that can affect the baby for life, and can even be fatal.

See the table below for dangerous infections that can be transmitted to babies this way.

So are there no safe ways to give 'good bacteria' to a C-section baby?

There are definitely two 100% safe and doctor-approved ways to help your baby build a healthy microbiome by giving them good bacteria, without the risk of 'vaginal seeding'.

1. Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is not only about providing your baby with the nutrition they need. Your breast milk contains millions of strains of 'good' bacteria that your baby needs for their gut. Your baby also gets the good bacteria from your skin around your nipples when you breastfeed. This is the best and safest way to build your baby's immunity.

2. Skin-to-skin contact: As soon as your baby is born, remove their clothes (except for the diaper) and hold them on your bare chest. This is called 'Skin-to-skin contact'. The millions of good bacteria on your skin naturally transfer to your baby's skin at this time. This not only provides protection, warmth, and helps to establish a healthy microbiome for your baby.

Finally, what is the advice of the doctors?

Based on the scientific evidence available to date, leading gynecological and pediatric medical associations in Sri Lanka and around the world unanimously state that they do not recommend the method of 'vaginal seeding' at all .

The reason for that is very clear:

• Benefits not proven: The supposed benefits are still theoretical.
• The risk is very high and has been proven: the risk of transmitting dangerous infections to the baby is real and very serious.

If you're expecting a baby via C-section, instead of considering risky methods like these, talk to your doctor about how you can improve your baby's health with proven, safe methods like breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact.

What would you do if you did this or were thinking about doing it?

Even though doctors don't recommend it, you may decide to do this. If so, please keep these things in mind:

• Tell your doctor:Be sure to inform your pediatrician and obstetrician about this.
• Be aware of your baby's signs of infection: If your baby has any of the following symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.
• Fever or abnormally low body temperature
• Coughing or rapid breathing
• Reducing or avoiding dairy intake
• Redness or discharge from the eyes (Pink eye)
• Skin rash
• Unusual drowsiness or sluggishness