Is it true that children or babies born with cesarean are prone to illness?

Delivery by caesarean section (cesarean section) is increasingly common and many mothers do. There are many reasons or causes for cesarean delivery, ranging from medical conditions to the choice of the mother. On the other hand, babies born via cesarean delivery may also experience health problems. So, what are the effects of a cesarean delivery from your little one's side? Check out the following reviews.

Effect of cesarean delivery on the child's immune system

Based on several experiences of mothers who have undergone a cesarean delivery, there is an impact that is felt by the little one, namely that they tend to get sick more easily and have allergies.

A 2012 study discussed the comparison of normal and cesarean deliveries and their impact on children. This study states that during the caesarean section, the child is not exposed to good bacteria in the mother's birth canal, causing a lack of essential bacteria from the mother.

The bacteria in question turned out to play an important role in the child's immune system. Therefore, children who are born cesarean are said to have a greater chance of being sick. Even your little one can experience allergies because their immune system is not as good as a normal child.

Children born by caesarean section can still have a normal immune system

Still from the same study (Neu & Rushing, 2012), it was also stated that good bacteria in the intestines of children can be affected by breastfeeding. In other words, breast milk needs to be given immediately after cesarean delivery to help increase the good bacteria in your little one's intestines.

In addition, as reported by the La Leche League International page, breastfeeding after a cesarean section is one way to make you closer to your little one.

Mothers may experience difficulty in breastfeeding after cesarean section, but try to get your little one breast milk by asking for help from health workers.

The content of breast milk that helps increase good bacteria in the intestines of children born by caesarean section

Quoted from one of the journals of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, breast milk is the best source of nutrition for children as well as providing protection against various types of infections.

Therefore, the immune system of a child who is breastfed immediately after birth can do a better job of providing protection. The impact is that children don't get sick easily.

In addition, breastfeeding is also associated with allergies and autoimmune diseases. In the journal from JAOA, it is also stated that exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life can reduce the risk of atopic allergies.

Based on research in 2018, breast milk has properties as a prebiotic and probiotic which functions to regulate and maintain the number of good bacteria in the gut. The benefits of breast milk due to its prebiotic and probiotic content do not only affect the intestinal microbial ecosystem. But also in the microbial ecosystem in the airway and nasopharyngeal cavity associated with asthma.

Prebiotics are fiber that is found in many fruits and vegetables, especially those containing complex carbohydrates such as asparagus, bananas, and garlic.

With the addition of adequate prebiotic intake, the number of good bacteria in the intestine of a baby born with a cesarean can increase. This is because prebiotics can be analogous to food for these good bacteria. Apart from food sources, prebiotics can also be obtained in the form of FOS and GOS.

Meanwhile, probiotics is a term for organisms that directly increase the population of good bacteria in the gut. For example bifidobacterium.

Thanks to the combination of prebiotic and probiotic content, breast milk also acts as a synbiotic for children. This is evidenced by a 2017 study which states that the role of breast milk as a synbiotic is useful in preventing pathogens (disease-causing parasites) from developing. Apart from that it also causes infection.

A child born by Caesarean section may not get enough good bacteria which are useful for the immune system. Therefore, babies born cesarean need more additional intake of probiotics. It comes from breast milk, food, and also growth milk.

But you don't need to worry to be afraid of having a cesarean delivery. Breastfeeding can help boost the immune system thanks to its synbiotic content. This can increase the number of good bacteria in your little one's intestine as in children who are born normally.

For more information about cesarean delivery, you can join a special class or series of webinars with experts to prepare you for pregnancy and postpartum. Also add knowledge by continuing to read articles about caesarean delivery from Hello Sehat, yes, Mom!

x