Speaker 1: (00:05)
As a baby is born. It comes through the vagina and it picks up the bacteria that the mother has in that area. Studies have shown us that the bacteria in the mother’s vagina by three days after the birth matches the baby’s bacteria and its mouth and gut bacteria for bacteria and amount for amount. So if we’ve got five bacteria and the mother’s vagina, three days after birth, you’ll have those same five bacteria in the baby fascinating studies. So what I tell women all the time, and I’d like you to remember is that the baby comes through the vagina, the fluids go into the baby’s mouth. And the very first thing that any baby does, it’s the very first reflex immediately upon birth, the baby swallows and the baby is not going

Speaker 2: (01:11)
To swallow a big gulp of water that it’s born

Speaker 1: (01:16)
Into. The baby is going to come through the water 1001, 1002, 1003, three seconds, and is up into your arms. And that’s when the baby swallows, before it can take its first breath. So the water does not decrease the flora that’s in the mouth whatsoever. And I want you to just feel okay about that.

 

Source for Studies:

 Zanetti-Dallenbach R, Lapaire O, Maertens A, Frei R, Holzgreve W and Hosli I (2006a). ‘Water birth: is the water an additional reservoir for Group B Streptococcus?’ Arch Gynecol Obstet, 273 (4): 236-8, epub 6 October 2005.
 Zanetti-Dallenbach R, Tschudin S, Yan Zhong X, Holzgreve W and Hosli I (2006b). ‘Maternal and neonatal infections and obstetrical outcome in water birth’. Euro J Obster Gynecol Reprod Biol, Nov 6, epub.