Question
I had planned to save my baby’s umbilical cord blood, but today, the person who collected it called and said that one of the tests on the cord blood came back positive—it was a positive birth canal bacteria test. What is a birth canal bacteria test, and does it affect the child’s health? I’m very worried. Could you please provide me with an explanation?
Answer
Birth canal bacteria refer to the presence of bacteria in the pregnant mother’s bloodstream, which can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta. Infections can also occur if there is inadequate sterilization during procedures like amniocentesis, or if sterilization is not thorough during labor, leading to bacterial infection when the fetus passes through the birth canal. The birth canal is divided into the bony pelvis (true pelvis) and the soft pelvis (a curved passage formed by the lower part of the uterus, cervix, vagina, and soft tissues at the pelvic floor). It’s just that a good constitution prevents illness; generally, there is no cause for concern. As long as both mother and child are healthy, there should be no problems. Please rest assured.