A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology challenged the long-held belief that the gut microbiome of a newborn baby is predominantly shaped by the vaginal microbiome of its mother.

It has long been believed that a babys birth method and the amount of time they spend being exposed to their mothers vaginal microbiome during delivery have a significant impact on how their gut microbiome develops. Contrary to popular perception, the results demonstrate that a mothers vaginal microbiome composition does not significantly influence the development of her babys microbiota.

In the study, it was seen that the composition of the maternal vaginal microbiome does not substantially influence the infant stool microbiome in early life. However, in the study, the researchers named several other factors that are more influential in shaping an infant`s gut microbiome, such as breast milk and exposure to the environment.

Researchers from UBC, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Womens Health Research Institute at BC Womens Hospital and Health Centre collaborated on the study as part of the Maternal Microbiome Legacy Project. One of the largest mother-infant cohort studies to date, the initiative recruited more than 600 Canadian women who intended to deliver both vaginally and via C-section.

The findings of the study showed that regardless of the mode of birth and exposure to the maternal microbiome, the composition of mothers vaginal microbiome did not predict the composition of babies stool microbiome at 10 days or three months after birth.

The researchers also stated that the major differences they observed in infants stool microbiome composition by mode of delivery in early life seemed to be primarily influenced by exposure to antibiotics around the time of birth. They explained that it is important to understand all the factors that influence the gut microbiomes development as it has a large impact on the overall health of a child. 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/vaginal-microbiome-does-not-affect-babies-gut-microbiome-study/1488053/)