Q: I gave birth with a C-section recently and have heard that when a baby doesn’t pass through the vaginal canal, it is deprived of essential microbes that build a healthy gut. If that’s true, how can I make up for that so my child is as healthy as possible? – Donna R., Richmond, Va., A: Great question. For a long time we’ve heard that the transfer of vaginal and fecal bacteria doesn’t happen during birth by C-section and that may create a serious deficit in a baby’s healthy gut biome. Turns out the body is smarter than that! A study published in Cell Host & Microbe reveals that moms who give birth via C-section transfer microbes to their babies using alterative routes.