c-section- 'seeding' and allergies/asthma

[strangerjo]

I'm scheduled for a c section and have been reading about 'seeding'- i.e. taking a vaginal swab and rubbing it on the baby in the hope it populates the baby's gut with good bacteria and reduces their likelihood of allergies/asthma.
Has anyone done this or is anyone planning to do this? And if so, how? Any thoughts on this (for or against) would be welcomed.

Cheers

It might be more scientific than the DM but, as was pointed out to you, it's less scientific than the BMJ. But if you think there's reliable scientific evidence, which Microbirth isn't, let's see it.

As for Group B strep, it being transient has nothing to do with anything. It only matters that it would be there in some women's bodies at the time of delivery and could potentially cause harm. In this particular instance, the arguments about testing causing more harm than good simply do not apply, because these are women who'd be having a section anyway and would benefit from knowing whether seeding has any risks in their case.

You can't really be given the all clear for group b strep to be honest. You can test negative one day then positive a couple of days later. A negative test means no GBS was picked up on the day of the test, not that you're free from GBS.
If you have a c section you'll also be given antibiotics, which will alter your gut and vaginal flora anyway.
Right now there's insufficient evidence for positive benefit and some slight evidence of potential harm. More research is needed. I'm assuming they cultured the swab somehow? In specific media?

Your baby will pick up your flora along with its own over the course of time as you touch/breastfeed. Bf ing also provides the baby with some very interesting oligosaccharides which act as probiotics encouraging the growth of 'good' bacteria.
You can also buy drops containing good bacteria (but there's little evidence these work either.)

I agree with Jizzy. You are taking a KNOWN risk (infection such as group B strep, which can prove fatal) and introducing the risk to your baby in return for an UNKNOWN and unproven benefit from seeding. There is no way I would do such a thing unless I was absolutely sure of the benefits of seeding. And that proof doesn't exist

Try breastfeeding.
It can reduce the incidence of allergy.

Im not sure smearing the baby with your lady parts is a good idea.

Make sure your baby gets colostrum- it will colonise her gut with the best bacteria. No bottles for a day or two.