05/06/2026
Have you heard of “va**nal seeding”?
When a baby is born va**nally, they are exposed to bacteria from their mother’s birth canal. These bacteria help to colonise the baby’s skin, mouth and gut, forming part of their developing microbiome. Babies born by caesarean section miss much of this exposure, so some parents and healthcare professionals have explored a process known as “Vaginal seeding”. This involves placing a sterile swab in the mother’s va**na before birth and then wiping the baby with it after delivery to transfer some of the bacteria that would normally be encountered during a va**nal birth. So does it work? Research suggests that it may alter a baby’s microbiome, but we still don’t know whether this leads to meaningful long-term health benefits. More research is needed. There are also important safety considerations. Some researchers believe that skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding may also help support the development of a healthy microbiome after birth. As with many things in pregnancy and childbirth, the answer isn’t always straightforward. I’d love to hear from parents: had you heard of this before today? Were you offered it after a c-section? If you have a c-section would you consider it?
