The side effects of caesarean section can not only be felt by the mother who gave birth, you know, but also the baby. One of the side effects of caesarean section that can be experienced by babies is a weakened immune system. For more details, see here, yes, mom
Caesarean section or c-section is a delivery process that is performed by making an incision in the abdomen. Generally, this procedure is done when there are certain conditions that do not allow normal delivery, such as pregnancy infection pregnancy, twin, breech position, or fetal distress.
In general, caesarean section is a fairly safe procedure. However, sometimes this procedure can cause a number of side effects, not only on the mother giving birth, but also on the baby.
The Impact of C-Baby's Immune System
section on theThe caesarean section procedure turns out to have an impact on the baby's immune system, you know, Bun. Babies born by caesarean section are thought to have the potential to have an immune system that is more sensitive and weaker than the immune system of babies born through normal delivery.
Research says that babies born by caesarean section have fewer good bacteria in their digestive tracts than babies born normally. This is because babies born by caesarean section are not exposed to a variety of good bacteria in the birth canal or the mother's vagina, such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae.
In fact, exposure to a variety of good bacteria is beneficial for building the baby's immune system. Therefore, babies born by caesarean section are said to have a higher risk of suffering from various diseases, such as asthma, allergies, type 1 diabetes, and obesity.
However, the above diseases can be prevented by meeting the nutritional needs of the baby, so that the balance of good bacteria in the body can be maintained and the body's immunity will also increase.
How to Strengthen the Immune System of Babies Born by Caesarean
If you are advised by a doctor to give birth by caesarean section, or maybe you have just had a cesarean section, you don't need to worry too much about the side effects of this procedure on the health of your baby's immune system. The reason is, the baby's immune system can still be improved by exclusive breastfeeding, really.
Breast milk contains various nutrients and antibodies that are important for the little one's immune system. Many antibodies are contained in the milk that first came out after the mother gave birth (colostrum). Thanks to the presence of antibodies, the baby's immune system will work better and be stronger against viruses and germs that cause infection.
In addition, breast milk also contains probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria in the human digestive system, while prebiotics are food for these good bacteria.
Probiotics and prebiotics in breast milk are useful for maintaining a balance in the number of good bacteria while suppressing the growth of bad bacteria in the baby's digestive tract. The balance of bacteria in the digestive tract helps the baby's body to form a strong immune system.
With strong immunity, your little one's body will be better able to fight infections, such as respiratory infections, lung infections (pneumonia), urinary tract infections, and infections in the intestines.
In addition, a strong immune system can also reduce the baby's risk of developing certain diseases, such as allergies, asthma, or even cancer.
However, if your mother's condition does not allow you to exclusively breastfeed your little one, there are some formula milks that also contain a combination of probiotics and prebiotics. This combination is called a synbiotic.
Good synbiotic formula milk generally contains a balanced composition between Bifidobacterium breve (B. brevet)probiotics, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) prebiotics, and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). Synbiotic FOS:GOS (1:9) is known to have an important role in supporting the baby's immune system, growth process and digestive health.
In conclusion, caesarean section can indeed cause side effects, including on the baby's immune system. However, in general, this procedure is still relatively safe and the side effects that arise can still be handled.
So, you don't have to worry too much if you are going to give birth or have just given birth by caesarean section, yes, Bun. As long as you take it according to the doctor's directions, everything will be fine, really.
If you still want to know more about cesarean birth, the mother can be consulted directly with dokter or search for information on health sites and forums for pregnant women. However, make sure the source is reliable, yes, Bun.
One forum that you can use as a reference is C-Ready Learning, which provides a variety of information and classes online regarding preparation for a caesarean section.