Figures from the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists show that approximately 38% babies in Hong Kong were delivered by caesarean section,however, a study conducted earlier by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in collaboration with the nutritional products company Danone Nutricia revealed that newborns delivered by caesarean section have lower levels of certain probiotic strains in their gut, with levels of the more common Bifidobacterium being virtually zero,calling on mothers who have given birth by caesarean section to breastfeed their babies as early as possible, or to provide them with infant formula containing probiotics and prebiotics.
The research team began collecting faecal samples from newborns in Hong Kong in May last year, and this year analysed 70 faecal samples from newborns taken within the first two weeks of life, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to determine bacterial counts.Dr Qiu Jiaqi from the Department of Applied Biological and Chemical Technology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University pointed out that in the first two weeks of life, the levels of Bifidobacterium in the gut of local babies born by caesarean section were only around 11 TP3T,which is significantly lower than the levels of over 351 TP3T found in babies born vaginally, and the approximately 101 TP3T found in Asian babies born by caesarean section.
She explained that babies born vaginally have a higher proportion of probiotics in their bodies due to exposure to vaginal gut probiotics from their mother during birth, and overseas research also indicates that the gut microbiota of babies born by Caesarean section may take until the age of three to five years to catch up with that of vaginally born babies.
Gut microbiota imbalance Prone to food allergies or eczema
Paediatric specialist Dr. Hui Chi-kwan emphasised that an imbalance in the gut microecology of infants can easily lead to allergies, such as food allergies or eczema. Although newborns can supplement their gut with probiotics through early breastfeeding, mothers may be unable to breastfeed promptly due to post-operative sequelae like anaesthesia or poor health. In such cases, formula milk containing probiotics and prebiotics can be provided instead.
She cited another study which found that, on average, the total count of bifidobacteria in the bodies of babies born by caesarean section who were fed only standard infant formula was significantly lower than that of babies born vaginally and breastfed, and that it would take 12 weeks for them to catch up to those levels;however, if they are fed formula containing a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, they can reach levels equivalent to or even higher than those of breastfed infants within 3 to 5 days; their risk of developing skin problems and eczema is also 53% and 72% lower, respectively, than that of caesarean-delivered infants fed standard formula.
