Microbirth documentary Summary

Documentary 2015
Written, Produced, Directed, Filmed, and Edited by: Toni Harman & Alex Wakeford

Rodney R Dietert, Professor of Immunotoxicology at Cornell University theorizes "The Completed Self" (2012) in which he believes humans are 90% microbial and 10% mammalian. Which means that humans are actually made up mostly of organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Over the last century modern medicine and antibiotics have killed off these microbes and unfortunately kills the good bacteria along with the bad. As humans evolve with today medicine, less bacteria transfers from mother to baby. Key bacteria is created in the mothers breasts and vagina and during vaginal birth is the babies first introduction to microbes and bacteria.  This microscopic process is important for future health in babies and what sets up a child for immunity of diseases in the future. This is why babies should not be bathed right away, in fact the substance called vernix is present on the skin of newborn babies, leaving this substance to absorb into your baby's skin will protect against dryness and bacterial infections.
Immediate skin to skin after birth transfers skin bacteria from mother to baby. Breast feeding and breast milk gives the baby its need to anti-inflammatories, antibodies, microbes, and sugars called oligosaccharides. Studies have shown the babies are not able to digest the sugar but the sugar was for the good bacteria in the baby's gut. Interrupting the breast feeding process can compromise the immune system where the baby's body can determine which bacteria is good and which bacteria is harmful that the body should attack. 
Although probiotics can be taken to correct the process later in life, the initial microbes exposed to a newborn sets a foundation that is crucial for life and fighting diseases. Cesarean section rates are going up around the world, Brazil is nearly a 90% c-section rate, China 50%, US 33%, and UK 25%. Women are requesting cesareans at a higher rather than 20-30 years ago because the risks are lower as they are safer today than ever before. C- sections are essential in certain circumstances and can save lives but babies born through cesarean have short term health risks: respiratory problems, difficulty establishing breast feeding, low blood sugar levels, sleepier and drowsier (anesthesia). Research is looking into the long term implications of cesareans. 
It is to be believed by science that the healthy microbes gained from vaginal delivery are not only for the gut but also for the brain. Diverse bacteria is needed for overall health development. Scientists are reaching ways to figure out how to improve microbes for baby if C-Section is necessary, some of this includes: skin to skin, breast feeding minimum 6 months, and vaginal swabs. Asthma, type 1 diabetes, obesity, Crohn's, and Celiac disease are all linked to the immune system and the changes in metabolism which contribute to an association with cesarean. 

Dietert, Rodney & Dietert, Janice. (2012). The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human-Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases. Entropy. 14. 2036-2065. 10.3390/e14112036. 

Jenness, R. (1979, July). The composition of human milk. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/392766

After watching this documentary and talking with my pediatrician I started taking probiotics for women and I also added newborn probiotics to my baby registry. My pediatrician states I can safely give to baby at 3-4 weeks of age, its best to get probiotics that have multiple strains. 

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