Unhealthy Bacteria Help Women during Pregnancy

The presence of unhealthy bacteria in the gut can be intimidating to anyone, but not for pregnant women.
Researchers found the structure of microbes in the gut changing during pregnancy- number of disease-related bacteria increasing by the last stage of pregnancy than the health-boosting bacteria. But according to them, the changes benefit the growth of the baby.
"The findings suggest that our bodies have coevolved with the microbiota and may actually be using them as a tool-to help alter the mother's metabolism to support the growth of the fetus," senior study author Ruth Ley of Cornell University, said in a statement.In normal circumstances, changes in gut microbe composition are associated with symptoms of metabolic syndrome like weight gain, abnormal glucose metabolism and inflammation. The same symptoms are more often found during pregnancy. The latest study was an effort taken by Ley and colleagues to explain the factors that lead to the occurrence during pregnancy.
Investigators included 91 pregnant women for reaching a conclusion. Stool samples of the participants were tested. Researchers found the gut microbes changing in composition during different stages of pregnancy. At the third trimester, the number of health-boosting bacteria were found less in number, compared to the unhealthy, disease causing bacteria.
"The changes in gut microbes were not related to diet, so we think the immune system or hormones play a role," Ley said.
The investigators conducted some experiments on healthy germ free mice to find the level of unhealthy bacteria during first and last pregnancy. The presence of more disease-related bacteria during last stages of pregnancy became obvious as the animals that received the gut microbes from third stages became fatter and showed more health problems.
However, the presence of more unhealthy bacteria found to be supporting the baby.
"By the third trimester, the microbiota can induce changes in metabolism," Ley said. "In the context of pregnancy, these metabolic changes in the mother are healthy, because they promote energy storage in fat tissue and help support the fetus. Outside of pregnancy, however, these changes can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes and other health problems."