As a mother, the top priority is raising healthy children. For centuries, we have been taught to be afraid of germs and that the younger we are the weaker our immune system is to fight off a virus or bacteria by itself. There is not one system in the body that acts independently. Any kind of stress to one system influences the other systems.

We now know that 99% of the bacteria in the world, and our bodies, are our friends and will not kill us. There is more bacterial DNA in our bodies than actual human DNA and 80% of our immune system is located in our bowels. Microbiome refers to normal bacterial flora that lives in our bodies. These bacteria are important for development and balance of the immune and nervous system. The Human Genome Project found that only 18-20% of who we are right now is based on our genetics. The other 80% is based on how we interact with our environment. This is called epigenetics.

Until recently, scientists believed that the gut of the unborn infant was a sterile environment that first became populated during the baby’s passage through the birth canal. It is now known that the unborn infant begins to develop its own microbiome during late-stage gestation, as the maturing baby begins to swallow amniotic fluid and take in maternal microbiota through the placenta. Alterations in the human microbiota have been linked to a wide range of disorders, from infections and autoimmune diseases to neurodevelopmental issues. The microbiome constantly evolves throughout life as it adapts to environmental, dietary, and life changes.

The rate of cesarean birth is increasing in the United States, nearly 33% in 2022. These babies are born into highly sterilized environments, and therefore avoid the natural exposure to the various microbes that usually jump-start the microbiome. Instead of the intestinal colonization reflecting that of the mother’s vaginal flora, it is being made up of epidermal (skin) bacteria.

Antibiotic treatment is commonly given to infants for precaution. However, even a single course of antibiotics permanently alters the gut flora in such a way that increases the risk of developing asthma, allergies, and eczema later in life. Not to mention generations of birth-control pills and lack of breasted babies. Immunologists have found that the bacteria in the birth canal are changing dramatically during each of the three trimesters of pregnancy. Imbalance (dysbiosis) in microbiome decrease protection against toxins, viruses, and bad bacteria.

CHIROPRACTIC + TH1/TH2 BALANCE

The worst thing you can do when fighting a virus is to be fearful. It will suppress the immune system. If the nervous system is not in homeostasis or harmony, what will that say about the immune system? You can’t have a healthy gut without a healthy brain.

The highway that connects the brain and the gut is the Vagus Nerve and it is bi-directional. The microbiota can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis which is a communication system that helps the body manage stress, and the balance of Th1 and Th2 cells is affected by stress. Stress can cause a shift in the balance of Th1 and Th2 cells, favoring Th2. This shift can make the body more susceptible to infection. The Vagus Nerve helps regulate the balance between these responses, which is important for immune system balance. Chiropractic adjustments help to optimize the brain-body connection and proper nerve function.

Pathways to Family Wellness, Issue 40, Winter 2013