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'What a baby's first poo can tell you about their future health'

When babies are born, their bodies are almost completely free of bacteria. In the first few days after birth, their digestive system starts to fill up with tiny living things called microbes. These microbes are very important for a baby's health. Scientists in London studied the poo of 3,500 newborns to learn how these microbes develop. They discovered that it takes about three or four days for a baby's gut to get a good mix of microbes.

The microbes in a baby's gut help break down food, protect against harmful germs, and help the body make important chemicals. Having a healthy gut microbiome can protect people from problems like anxiety and even some brain diseases. On the other hand, an unhealthy gut microbiome is linked to diseases like heart problems, diabetes, and bowel diseases.

The way a baby is born affects which microbes they get. Babies born through the birth canal get more good bacteria from their mother's gut. Babies born by C-section miss out on some of these good microbes and get more bacteria from the hospital. Scientists found that babies with a microbe called B. longum were less likely to get sick with breathing problems. Some experts think that giving babies probiotics, which are good bacteria, could help them stay healthy. But scientists are still figuring out which bacteria are best for each baby. In the future, doctors might be able to give each baby the right mix of microbes to help them grow up healthy.