Grady, Denise. "Study Sees Bigger Role for
Placenta in Newborns’ Health." The New York Times. The New York
Times, 21 May 2014. Web. 23 May 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/health/study-sees-bigger-role-for-placenta-in-newborns-health.html?ref=science&_r=0>.
Scientists have been studying the
effect of the placenta on babies. If there are the wrong bacteria in the
placenta the baby may be premature. The causes of this include periodontal
disease and urinary infections. However, scientists are finding the bacteria in
the placenta are important to the development of the fetus. A theory is babies
born by a cesarean are not exposed to the bacteria in the birth canal. The
placenta provides oxygen and nutrients, secretes hormones, and removes waste.
Scientists are amazed at the placenta. It is the only organ that the human body
creates a totally new one and then discards it. Scientists believe all the
bacteria in babies were acquired during birth. However, babies are born covered
in a wax to try and prevent bacteria getting to the baby. Researchers collected
placentas to study the bacteria inside. About 300 different types of bacteria
were inside, most harmless. The closest match with the body was between the
mouth and the placenta. The oral bacteria get in the mother’s bloodstream and
make its way to the placenta. Therefore women with periodontal disease tend to
have premature babies.
In modern day a pregnant woman can
schedule a cesarean section to prevent an unsafe delivery. However, how do we
know if a harsh delivery is worse than the baby not being exposed to the
bacteria in the birth canal? Scientists will have to study which one affects
the baby more. In other words can one form of delivery cause longer term issues
to the baby. I was born with a muscle issue in my neck. This was made worse
during a normal delivery. Could a cesarean section have made my issue better or
worse? I wonder if this would change anything about me today.
This article described the role of
the placenta clearly and understandable. However, when they talked about the
oral bacteria making its way to the placenta they never offered how to help
this. They should have described how scientists today are trying to help solve
this issue. I thought it was smart to show the different types of theories
scientists have about where the bacteria in babies comes from. I also enjoyed
how scientists admitted they are intrigued by the placenta and still don’t know
so much about it. Lastly I think they could have explained the experiment they
did more in depth. I didn’t quite understand what they found from it and how it
helped scientists advance.
Great job Lindsay! Your current was very well written and I like that you asked a lot of questions, from reading this current event I learned all about the placenta. One reason I decided to do my comment on this current event was because I knew very little about the placenta, and you did very good job, and I was able to learn a lot. Also, I thought that in your critique you made really good points. Also, I thought it was good that you added a little about a personal experience.
ReplyDeleteIn your current event there were many things to learn, for example, the placenta provides oxygen and nutrients, secretes hormones, and removes waste. I was surprised to read that they contain about 300 different types of bacteria. It is good that you added an example of another part of the body that is similar to the placenta. Therefore, the reader could make a connection and understand the placenta a little more.
One suggestion I have to make your current event even better would be to explain the placenta more, you do explain the placenta a little bit, however; having more would make it clearer. For example, stating where the placenta is found in the body.