Initial acquisition of microbiota

When you are born, you come into contact with a lot of different bacteria and other tiny organisms that live all around you. Some of these bacteria are good for you and can help you stay healthy, while others can make you sick.

The first bacteria that you come into contact with are usually the ones that come from your mother. This happens because babies get their microbiota, or collection of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in and on their body, from their mother during birth.

When a baby is born vaginally, they are exposed to their mother's microbiota as they pass through the birth canal. This is important because the bacteria that live in the birth canal are often the same ones that live in the mother's gut, which can help the baby develop a healthy gut microbiome.

If a baby is born by C-section, they miss out on this initial exposure to their mother's bacteria. Instead, they are usually exposed to the bacteria that live on the skin of the doctors and nurses who deliver them. This can sometimes lead to an imbalance in the baby's microbiota, which may have implications for their health later in life.

Once a baby is born, they continue to acquire microbiota from the environment around them. They get bacteria from the air they breathe, the things they touch, and the people they come into contact with. Over time, their microbiota changes and evolves as they grow and develop.

Overall, the initial acquisition of microbiota is an important process that helps babies develop a healthy microbiome. By understanding how this process works, we can take steps to support the development of healthy microbiota in babies and promote better health outcomes over the long term.