During Heart Failure, a Pregnant Woman’s Unborn Child Can Release Stem Cells to Heal Her Heart

Pregnancy is a time of big changes for a woman’s body.

From morning sickness to growing a new life, it can feel like a mix of joy and challenges.

But what if the bond between mother and baby goes deeper than we think?

What if the baby plays a role in keeping the mother healthy, even in tough times?

This idea might sound like something from a story, but science shows there is truth to it.

As we look closer, we find a special link that starts in the womb and lasts for years.

The Exchange of Cells Between Mother and Baby

How do fetal stem cells repair the mother’s heart during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the mother and baby share more than just food and air through the placenta. Cells can move between them. This happens in most pregnancies, often starting early on, around four to six weeks. These cells from the baby are different from the mother’s own cells because they carry the baby’s genes.

Studies on animals, like mice, help us understand this. Researchers have seen baby cells travel to the mother’s body and stay there. In people, tests have found baby cells in the mother’s blood, skin, liver, and other parts.

These cells can last for a long time, even up to 30 years after the baby is born. This mix of cells is called microchimerism. It means a small number of cells from one person live in another person’s body.

Why does this happen? Experts think it might help the mother’s body accept the baby without fighting it. The mother’s immune system needs to stay calm so it does not attack the growing baby.

These shared cells could train the immune system to be friendly. But there is more to it. These cells from the baby act like helpers. They can turn into different types of cells the body needs.

Fetal Stem Cells Repair Mother’s Heart

Now, picture a serious problem, like damage to the heart. In studies with mice, when the mother had heart trouble during pregnancy, cells from the baby moved to the hurt area. These cells changed into heart muscle cells or blood vessel cells. This helped fix the damage faster.

In one key study, scientists caused heart attacks in pregnant mice. They used special marks to track the baby cells. Two weeks later, they found these cells in the mother’s heart, working as new, healthy parts. This suggests the baby cells go where they are needed most, like a repair team.

Does this work the same in humans? There are signs it does. For example, some women get a heart problem called peripartum cardiomyopathy during or right after pregnancy.

Half of them get better on their own, which is unusual. Tests have found baby cells in the hearts of these women, turned into working heart cells. This could explain the quick healing.

It is not just the heart. Baby cells have been found helping in other spots, like the liver or skin. They might help make new blood vessels or fix wounds. This shows how the baby can support the mother when she needs it.

Long-Term Effects on Mother’s Health

The story does not end at birth. Baby cells can stay in the mother for many years. This might bring good things. Some research links these cells to lower chances of certain illnesses, like some types of cancer or joint problems. For instance, they could act like guards, spotting and stopping bad cells from growing.

But it is not all positive. In some cases, these cells might cause issues. They have been tied to autoimmune problems, where the body attacks itself. Conditions like lupus or scleroderma sometimes show more baby cells in affected areas.

Scientists are still figuring out why this happens. It could depend on how well the cells match the mother’s genes.

Also, mothers can carry cells from all their pregnancies, even ones that did not go full term. This means a woman might have bits from her children, and even from her own mother, passed down like a family chain.

This cell sharing is a two-way street. Mothers send cells to the baby, too. So, a child might grow up with cells from siblings or grandparents. It is a reminder of how connected we are.

In the end, this bond shows pregnancy is not just about growing a baby. It is about a team effort where both help each other. More studies are needed to learn all the details, but what we know so far is exciting. It changes how we see the power of this special time.

You might also want to read: World’s First Dead Heart Brought Back to Life for 3-Month-Old Baby Transplant