Hey, I'm trying to poop here - do you mind?
Premature infants have a rough beginning because they are weeks earlier than the expected due date and most likely they came into the world via C-section. These infants are behind in their postnatal development of intestinal microflora. How do we know this and what can we do about it? A current study found that the pace of progression of the bacteria in the gut was "minimally influenced by environmental factors like mode of delivery, antibiotics or formula." I disagree with these findings because there is clear evidence to suggest the contrary. I am open to and interested in gaining insights into bacterial colonization patterns in infants and how colonization or lack thereof links to the development of serious disease patterns like necrotizing enterocolitis. Necrotizing enterocolitis causes tissue death in the lining of the intestinal wall and occurs in 10% of premature infants and is fatal in 25 to 35% of all cases.
Researchers found that gestational age was the key factor in postnatal development of intestinal microflora in premature infants. That makes sense.
Remind me what the intestinal microbiome is and why it is important
The microbiome is made up of small single-celled organisms that work together to form complex bacterial communities in our gut. These bacterial cells outnumber the total number of human cells by 10 times. Bacterial cells per one gram of feces in the average human contains one trillion bacterial cells.
We are more bacteria than human. This collection of bacteria, fungi and viruses and their DNA inhabits your body in your gut, skin, nasal and oral cavities and urogenital system. The gastrointestinal system is an organ for digestion, absorption and immunity.
Bacteria can be helpful or harmful to the host. Our health is determined by the diversity of bacteria present. Bacteria in our gut have many functions: synthesis of vitamins, metabolizing nutrients, drug metabolism regulation, renewed gut skin cells, development and regulation of the immune system. Diet, environment, transient microorganisms, age, gender, genetics, exercise, gut permeability and immune status all affect the gut bacteria.
Did you know that leaky gut is linked to obesity?
What causes pre-term birth? It's micro-organisms that cause intra-uterine infections that can be sub-clinical with a few or no signs or symptoms. Most of these microbes are resistant to be cultured like the mycoplasmas which need specialized identification techniques. We check all patients for mycoplasmas with polymerase chain reaction methods.
We used to believe that the human fetus developed in a sterile uterine environment and that you got your first micro-organism exposure at birth. When you slide through the vaginal canal the bacterial exposure is supposed to be representative of your mommy's vaginal microbes. So when you are born via C-section you are colonized with bacteria from your mom's skin and whatever else is in the room.
Infants born via C-section are colonized predominately with Staphylococcus bacteria and 64 to 82% of Staph infections in infants follow C-section birth. Vaginal birth is the only opportunity for exposure to the vaginal microbiome. Survival of our species and our life force is dependent on this early colonization through the vagina.
Both long and short term health conditions are linked to your intestinal microbiome. Obesity, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, late onset autism, mood disorders and other conditions may first be established in infancy during microbiome development. Premature infants have abnormal colonization. They have less bacterial diversity, are exposed to institutional pathogens and are routinely administered antibiotics. This adds up to necrotizing enterocolitis.
Everyone needs probiotics especially moms during pregnancy. Everyone can benefit from GOOD GUT products. 
