What is Fetal Microchimerism?

During pregnancy, some fetal cells leave the womb through the placenta and enter the mother. The cells end up in various parts of the mother’s body. This phenomenon is called “fetal microchimerism”. It was first discovered in the late 19th century by a German scientist named Georg Schmol. A century later, scientists marvel how Y chromosomes that are only passed down from father to son-sometimes ended up in women’s cells. The cell exchange starts as soon as six weeks in gestation. The benefits the cells provide to the mother are astounding. The cells boost the mother’s healing process, lactation, circulation, and help to prevent breast cancer.