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Bacterial Baptism: Scientific, Medical, and Regulatory Issues Raised by Vaginal Seeding of C-Section-Born Babies

Bacterial Baptism: Scientific, Medical, and Regulatory Issues Raised by Vaginal Seeding of C-Section-Born Babies

Authors :
Betty Chou
Noel T. Mueller
Suchitra K. Hourigan
Diane E. Hoffmann
Erik C. von Rosenvinge
Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello
Lauren Levy
Source :
J Law Med Ethics
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2019.

Abstract

Several lines of evidence suggest that children born via Cesarean section (C-section) are at greater risk for adverse health outcomes including allergies, asthma and obesity. Vaginal seeding is a medical procedure in which infants born by C-section are swabbed immediately after birth with vaginal secretions from the mother. This procedure has been proposed as a way to transfer the mother's vaginal microbiome to the child, thereby restoring the natural exposure that occurs during vaginal birth that is interrupted in the case of babies born via C-section. Preliminary evidence indicates partial restoration of microbes. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine the health benefits of the procedure. Several studies, including trial, are currently underway. At the same time, in the clinic setting, doctors are increasingly being asked to by expectant mothers to have their babies seeded. This article reports on the current research on this procedure and the issues it raises for regulators, researchers, physicians, and patients.

Details

ISSN :
1748720X and 10731105
Volume :
47
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....c27cd1a0d69ba9dd00250240cf225a7e
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/1073110519897732