Naomi's son wonders whether intestinal flora enter breastmilk and aid in the
baby's digestive system.  Maternal gut flora are found in the whole length
of the baby's gut just hours after birth, but the postulated route of entry
is through contact with the bacteria during birth, not via the milk as it
comes from the breast.  We are designed to be born through the opening
provided for that purpose, and its proximity to the exit of the gut allows
us to get our first inoculation of bacteria from our mothers.  Babies born
by c-section show a very different kind of gut flora, and these differences
are easily measureable for many many weeks, if not permanently.  Breastfed
babies have characteristic gut flora that differes from artificially fed
babies too.  It would appear that we are meant to have a small number of
coliform bacteria in our predominantly lactobacillus-populated guts; since
coliforms are involved in the production of Vitamin K it's not such a dumb
idea.

Babies born by C-section are also more susceptible to developing food
allergies than babies born vaginally, and some researchers are exploring the
role of initial colonization of the gut in the process leading to allergy.

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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