A study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, shows that fetal exposure to antibiotics in mid to late pregnancy is linked to a heightened risk of childhood asthma. These findings were observed among babies born vaginally and as such asthmatic risk may certainly be linked to the method of delivery. However, antibiotic use during delivery has been on the rise and previous studies on this phenomena has indicate that these “good” drugs can affect the fetus and alter the microbiome of both mom and baby.
"Our results are in keeping with the hypothesis that effects of antibiotics impact the maternally derived microbiome in vaginally born children and that this may increase the odds of childhood asthma,” note the study authors.
To study the effects directly, scientists looked into the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) that opened in 1996 for the study of health on prenatal and early life exposures.
"The profligate use of antibiotics in pregnancy should be balanced against the increasing evidence on adverse long-term health outcomes in the offspring, as well as broader concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance."
Learn more about antibiotic use during pregnancy:
Source: Science Daily