ACOG recommends against vaginal seeding in Cesarean births

© Thinkstock

ACOG today issued a policy statement against the practice of vaginal seeding in cesarean deliveries, in absence of sufficient data on potential benefits associated with the procedure.

The new policy statement published in the November issue of Journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. Earlier Danish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology has already issued a similar statement at the national meeting on 19 January 2017.

Vaginal seeding is practiced at cesarean birth and consists of transferring maternal vaginal fluid with a gauze or swab to mouth, nose, or skin of a newborn infant to inoculate him with maternal bacteria. 

This practice came into vogue following a dramatic rise in prevalence of childhood asthma, atopic disease, and other immune disorders that paralleled a steep increase in cesarean sections rate worldwide, which prevented the fetal natural colonization with maternal vaginal flora.

At present ACOG only endorse it as a part of research project in institutions under an approved protocol.

If a patient or her attended insist for the procedure, they should be fully informed about the lack of scientific data in favor of any potential benefits. They should be explained the risks associated with the procedure and the mother should be tested for infectious diseases and potentially pathogenic bacteria. Lab testing should be ordered for herpes simplex virus and cultures for group B streptococci, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhea.

The discussion with the patient should always be documented in her medical records and take in presence of other gynecologist, family physician or pediatrician. In the event of neonatal infection or sepsis, they are at least aware of the procedure.

The relationship between breast feeding and childhood asthma and allergies remains uncertain, ACOG recommends exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of life as it has ‘multiple known benefits.’

More research is needed on the subject before the potential benefits of this procedure is documented. Till date, the only available research on vaginal seeding is the result of a small pilot study published in Nature Medicine that was able to document similarities between bacterial communities of infants delivered by cesarean section and undergone vaginal seeding and babies delivered vaginally.

Related posts:

Danish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends against vaginal seeding in Cesarean births

Microbirthing: The " Vaginal Seeding" is growing fad, but thin evidence concerns physicians!

Full Text of the committee opinion

Follow on Facebook and Twitter.