Microbiome in Pregnancy and Early Child Development

Ahabwe Edwina

Email: edwina.ahabwe@studwc.kiu.ac.ug

Department: Industrial pharmacy and pharmacognosy Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The maternal and infant microbiomes play pivotal roles in pregnancy outcomes, immune maturation, and early childhood development. Traditionally, the fetus was thought to develop in a sterile environment; however, evidence now suggests that maternal microbial communities influence fetal biology even before birth. Pregnancy induces profound shifts in the gut, vaginal, and oral microbiota, which in turn affect immune tolerance, nutrient metabolism, and fetal growth. Dysbiosis during gestation is associated with adverse outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and impaired immune development. After birth, maternal transmission of microbes through delivery mode, breastfeeding, and environmental exposure seeds the infant microbiome, which matures over the first three years of life. Early microbial colonization shapes immune function, neurodevelopment, and behavioral outcomes, with disruptions linked to conditions such as asthma, allergies, obesity, autism spectrum disorder, and mood-related disorders. Nutrition, antibiotics, and cesarean delivery are major modulators of microbial assembly. Methodological advances in metagenomics and multi-omics approaches continue to deepen insights into host–microbe interactions. This review summarizes the role of the microbiome in pregnancy and early child development, with emphasis on immune education, neurodevelopment, and potential therapeutic interventions, including probiotics, dietary strategies, and microbiome modulation.

Keywords: Pregnancy microbiome, Infant gut colonization, Immune system development, Gut–brain axis, and early childhood health.

CITE AS: Ahabwe Edwina (2025). Microbiome in Pregnancy and Early Child Development. IDOSR JOURNAL OF APPLIED SCIENCES 10(3):103-115. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAS/2025/103.103115