Every day, more and more scientific evidence is emerging confirming that the species composition of our microbiome - the invisible microbial ecosystem that lives in the body of each of us - plays a key role in human health. The Microbiome Effect is the first book in the focus of which is the rapidly emerging scientific data on how the formation of the microbiome is influenced by the way a person is born. Tony Harman and Alex Wakeford ask important questions about the potential long-term consequences of common birth interventions such as caesarean sections and the use of synthetic oxytocin, and share new information about how formula feeding affects the diversity of the infant microbiome. from experts from around the world, including midwives, global health policymakers, pediatric professionals, immunotoxicologists and geneticists. The book is intended for parents, midwives and other health professionals.