Where does the baby’s microbiome come from?

This one’s on you, mom. While there are similarities in microbiome composition between family members, a baby gets the majority of their microbiome from the mother. This is called vertical transmission. Or in early life, seeding. Both vertical transmission and seeding describe the microbial transfer that takes place at birth and through later interactions with mom. Factors that influences a baby’s microbiome include:

• A mother’s diet during pregnancy
• Antibiotic use and medication
• How a baby is born, vaginal or C-section
• Gestational age at birth
• How long a baby is breastfed
• When and what solids are first introduced
• What environment a baby is exposed to