What Does Newborn Mean?
The first four-week period after birth is called the NEWBORN period. The newborn period is divided into subgroups according to the gestational week.
How are Newborn Periods Classified According to Gestational Week?
Births between 20-37 weeks are called PRETERM (early) birth. Births before 20 weeks are named ABORTION (miscarriage).
Births between 38-42 weeks are called TERM (on time) birth.
Births after 42 weeks are called POSTTERM (late) births.
What are the Causes of Newborn Period Allergies?
-Inability to sufficiently complete maturation (development) due to early birth
-Hereditary enzyme deficiencies
-Microbial flora deficiency
We can roughly group the factors causing allergies under these three headings. In newborn allergies, sometimes more than one of the factors mentioned above may be effective simultaneously. In particular, some of the allergies developing due to “Microbial Flora Damage” can be prevented by acting more carefully and diligently in the selection of treatments applied during the newborn period.
Factors Causing Flora Damage in the Newborn Period?
Newborns start life with a certain microbial flora. The diversity and sufficiency of this microbial flora are affected by many conditions such as maternal health during pregnancy, the nutritional status of the mother, the diseases she has had, the medications she uses, alcohol and smoking use, environmental factors she lives in, etc. The birth week of the newborn is also important in shaping its microbial flora. In addition, whether the delivery method is vaginal or cesarean section is another factor that determines the newborn flora. Other factors include the adequacy of vital functions after birth (sucking reflex, congenital anomalies preventing respiration and nutrition, etc.). The treatments to be applied to the newborn during and after birth are also important in the formation of the flora and the preservation of the existing flora. Intensive antibiotic and corticosteroid treatments to be performed are very important in the damage occurring in the flora.
The damage occurring in the newborn’s flora is one of the events that initiate allergic reactions. In some cases, depending on the flora damage occurring in the newborn, allergies may develop against all oral nutritional elements, including breast milk. And because of this, the newborn may not be able to be fed orally. In this case, the only option is parenteral (intravenous) nutrition of the newborn.
What Does Microbial Flora Mean?
In some parts of our body, we live in harmony, coordination, and peace with trillions of single-celled organisms of thousands of varieties that live with us, do not harm us, even have many benefits, form the basic antimicrobial defense line of the region they are in, contribute to the humidity and acidity of the region, have enzymatic functions, and have digestion and synthesis functions, which constantly renew themselves and have life cycles short enough to be expressed in hours. While we host them, they provide countless and indispensable benefits for us. All these single-celled organisms are named MICROBIAL FLORA. Sometimes we also call it simply FLORA. FLORA is also named according to its location; Oral flora, genital area flora, digestive system flora, etc. After all this information, the most important sentence to be said is “HUMANS CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THEIR FLORA”.
Why is Microbial Flora Important?
It is not possible for humans to live without flora. The existence and sufficiency of the flora is one of the important factors determining the functions of the region where it is located. The existence of the flora of the relevant region and its being in sufficient biodiversity are not the same thing. Only if the flora of the relevant region is in sufficient biodiversity can it provide maximum benefit. If our flora exists but is not in sufficient biodiversity, the benefit to be obtained from that flora will be limited at the same rate. It is indispensable for our vital functions that our flora in all regions is healthy and its biodiversity is sufficient.
The healthier our flora is and the higher its biodiversity is, the more HEALTHY, DISEASE-FREE, PEACEFUL, HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL, EFFICIENT, PRODUCTIVE, and LONG life we live.
What Happens If We Lose Our Microbial Flora?
If we completely or partially lose our Digestive System Microbial Flora, first of all, our most important antimicrobial defense will be wounded, and we can catch many infections much more easily (diarrhea, etc.). Loss of microbial flora also causes weakness in other functions of the region where it is located. Food intolerance and food allergies can be seen due to digestive system flora damage. After long-term flora damage, nutritional disorders, growth retardation, leaky gut syndrome, and accompanying autoimmune disease processes begin.
Severe damage can occur in the digestive system flora due to antibiotics and corticosteroids applied after newborn period infections and respiratory distress. Antibiotics not only kill the microbes that cause infection but also harm the flora in our body, and this flora damage is sometimes permanent, and additional treatments may be needed to regain the flora. As a result of the digestive system flora damage, food allergies that we frequently see may occur. Sometimes these food allergies can also develop against breast milk and all kinds of formula. In this case, oral feeding of the newborn may not be possible. In such cases, the only option is feeding the newborn intravenously. Allergic reactions can also be seen against some nutritional elements given intravenously in newborns who cannot be fed orally due to allergy.
In newborn food allergies developing due to flora damage in this way, the only treatment to be performed is REDEVELOPMENT (RESTORATION) OF THE FLORA.
Flora Restoration is a treatment method that requires serious experience. During this time, it is necessary to both maintain the nutrition of the newborn and perform FLORA RESTORATION simultaneously. Without performing Flora Restoration, it is not possible to correct the allergy table developing against oral nutrition and to ensure that the newborn returns to normal healthy conditions.
Flora Restoration to be performed using the maximum possible number of multiple donors for the patient will be more beneficial. The more and healthier donors we use to perform Flora Restoration, the more effective and shorter the time it will be possible for us to realize the flora restoration.
Associate Professor Murat KANLIÖZ
General Surgery Specialist