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Scientists have discovered that part of your baby remains inside a mother for years after birth.

According to a study, which was conducted by researchers at the Arizona State University, our babies’ cells stay inside our bodies long after the pregnancy is over.

These cells can stay in your body for up to 38 years after your child is born. The phenomenon is called ‘fetomaternal microchimerism’.

“Foetal cells can act as stem cells and develop into epithelial cells, specialised heart cells, liver cells and so forth. This shows that they are very dynamic and play a huge role in the maternal body,” says researcher Amy Boddy.

“They can even migrate to the brain and differentiate into neurons. We are all chimeras.”

However in some cases, it is also possible that the cells can cause damage to the mother’s body too.

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  • Interesting post – but not something mothers really need to know, I think.

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  • Did we really need to know this. Surely the scientists have more important things to do that study this phenomenon

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  • I would definitely be worried what damage the “foreign” cells could cause to the Mum.

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  • I don’t understand enough about this or what it means. Interesting, but based on what research? And what does this mean?

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  • wow, interesting

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  • 38 years is pretty amazing.

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  • That’s amazing- I wonder if these cells could be partly behind ‘phantom flutters’. Ever since having my daughter I would often feel phantom movements around my womb area that felt like baby movements. They stopped when I became pregnant with my son and I only very occasionally get them after having him, however my daughter was born naturally and my son emergency cesarean, so not sure if that plays any part as well. Interesting stuff!

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  • Well that is something you don’t hear every day.

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  • Interesting ! Would like to know more about the impact of that.

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  • Will have to keep an eye on this. So does that me multiple births mean more cells lying around or what.

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  • Wow! Just wow!

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