This week we are looking at potential factors that the mother or infant could be exposed to, to influence colonization of the microbial community in the newborn infant.
Starting with some negative influences, during pregnancy the mother could be smoking, have weight gain, exposure to antibiotics, or have bacteria in amniotic fluid. These are all things that influence the mothers microbial community but will then effect the infant. Some infant exposure includes; intensive care at birth, antibiotics, high-fat mother’s milk, weight, and feeding methods.
Weight gain is common and alters the microbial community as pregnancy time increases. There is also an increase of oral, placental, gut and vaginal microbiota. Overall, as time increases so does the microbial community in infants.
Source: Lecture 6B BHS 323 notes
