The ECOBABe Study (Early Colonisation with Bacteria After Birth) is investigating whether babies born by caesarean section can be protected from a greater risk of some conditions, including childhood obesity and asthma, by being given their mothers' bacteria soon after birth.

Babies born by caesarean section miss out on the normal process of exposure to these bacteria, which happens during a vaginal birth. The bacteria may be an important part of developing babies’ digestive and immune systems. The study is trying to see if mimicking the normal process can help babies born by caesarean section.

Status: Recruitment complete.

ANZCTR number: ACTRN12618000339257

Contact:  ecobabe@auckland.ac.nz