Did you know? Your child's DNA might be hanging out in your body – 5 mind-blowing facts about microchimerism
Research from the National Health Institute confirms cells from your firstborn (and any other children you have) can remain in your body for years, even decades
Image: Karolina Cruz/pexels
You've probably seen those health "did you know?" videos on TikTok. Here's a shocking fact for moms: Did you know, a child's DNA can linger in your body for years after childbirth?
And if you're the firstborn, a bit of you may always be with your mother. It sounds like science fiction, doesn't it? Yet, it's a real phenomenon, and it's got scientists rethinking everything from autoimmunity to cancer.
What is microchimerism?
The name sounds intimidating, but it's fascinating. 'Micro' means small, and 'chimaera' comes from Greek mythology, a creature made of different animals. In biology, microchimerism describes having a tiny amount of someone else's DNA inside you.
In this case, it's your child's. During pregnancy, some of your baby's cells slip across the placenta and settle in your body. These cells can stay there for decades, quietly mingling with your own tissues.
According to Craddlewise if you're a mother, you're quite literally carrying pieces of your children with you.
Image: RDNE Stock project/pexels
Scientists have found that mothers can carry DNA from each of their children, sometimes even from pregnancies that didn't go to full term.
How long do these cells last?
Research from the National Health Institute confirms that cells from your firstborn (and any other children you have) can remain in your body for years, even decades. And yes, even if a pregnancy doesn't go to full term, some of those fetal cells can still stay behind.
These cells aren't just passive stowaways; many are pluripotent, like stem cells, meaning they can transform into different types of tissue. They migrate, settle, and even help repair damage, blending in with your heart, liver, brain, and more.
Why does this happen?
It's a story millions of years in the making. According to Dr Amy Boddy, a geneticist at Arizona State University, this strange exchange between mother and child likely evolved as a kind of biological negotiation.
The fetus tries to draw as many resources as possible, while the mother's body balances giving and protecting herself (Boddy et al., 2015). But the real twist? These leftover baby cells may affect your health long after pregnancy.
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Did you know? Your child's DNA might be hanging out in your body – 5 mind-blowing facts about microchimerism
Research from the National Health Institute confirms cells from your firstborn (and any other children you have) can remain in your body for years, even decades Image: Karolina Cruz/pexels You've probably seen those health "did you know?" videos on TikTok. Here's a shocking fact for moms: Did you know, a child's DNA can linger in your body for years after childbirth? And if you're the firstborn, a bit of you may always be with your mother. It sounds like science fiction, doesn't it? Yet, it's a real phenomenon, and it's got scientists rethinking everything from autoimmunity to cancer. What is microchimerism? The name sounds intimidating, but it's fascinating. 'Micro' means small, and 'chimaera' comes from Greek mythology, a creature made of different animals. In biology, microchimerism describes having a tiny amount of someone else's DNA inside you. In this case, it's your child's. During pregnancy, some of your baby's cells slip across the placenta and settle in your body. These cells can stay there for decades, quietly mingling with your own tissues. According to Craddlewise if you're a mother, you're quite literally carrying pieces of your children with you. Image: RDNE Stock project/pexels Scientists have found that mothers can carry DNA from each of their children, sometimes even from pregnancies that didn't go to full term. How long do these cells last? Research from the National Health Institute confirms that cells from your firstborn (and any other children you have) can remain in your body for years, even decades. And yes, even if a pregnancy doesn't go to full term, some of those fetal cells can still stay behind. These cells aren't just passive stowaways; many are pluripotent, like stem cells, meaning they can transform into different types of tissue. They migrate, settle, and even help repair damage, blending in with your heart, liver, brain, and more. Why does this happen? It's a story millions of years in the making. According to Dr Amy Boddy, a geneticist at Arizona State University, this strange exchange between mother and child likely evolved as a kind of biological negotiation. The fetus tries to draw as many resources as possible, while the mother's body balances giving and protecting herself (Boddy et al., 2015). But the real twist? These leftover baby cells may affect your health long after pregnancy.
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