Potential factors that could affect the mother or infant microbial communities.
Positive exposure factors-
- Beta diversity: increased in this kind of bacteria during the 3rd trimester that leads to fecal cytokines, insulin insensitivity, and weight gain that are positive towards the baby’s growth
- Breastfeeding: the human milk microbiome is largely diverse and can establish a starting microbiome for the baby; what the mother eats, and her weight can influence this
- Probiotic administration: can reduce the incidence of allergy; can also alleviate complications
Positive or negative factors-
- BMI: this value has been studied to alter the microbiota composition
- Mode of birth: vaginally delivered babies have colonization first from bacteria of the maternal vagina and gut bacteria; meanwhile, c-section births exhibit delayed colonization and higher abundance of antibiotic-resistance genes. In conclusion, vaginal deliveries are associated with more diversity of the microbiome in newborns.
- Immune state: the immune system state of the mother can affect the oral cavity microbiota thus affecting what is transferred to the baby
- Hormone exposure: can alter the growth of the microbiome; this hormone changes have to do with metabolic state and mother’s hormonal regulation
- Diet change: solid food that can mature the gut microbiome
Negative exposure factors-
- Malnutrition: within the mother or newborn can affect the microbiome development during pregnancy or early infancy
- Formula: can affect the infant’s oral microbiome if no proper (further test are needed to analyze the negative effects)
