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This just bothered me. But i understand the little confusion. No, i do not think thr relationship is parasitic and here is why.
Parasites in a general definition are organism that invade the body and extract nutrients from the blood all the while trying to evade the immune system when it fights back, thus living the body harmed.
Mother and child have a unique connection and they work together to prevent immunological conflict. This is through the placenta, the one organ where their relationship hinges on, from eating to digestion to excretion. The placenta, this tissue that is genetically part of the baby and physically connected to the mother.
Although the placenta uses one tiny trick from the oarasites world, a molecule that partailly hides it from the mothers immune system but oversees an active exchange of various things between mother and child.
This exchange is not fully understand but the mother without a doubt protects her baby from infection and the cells of the baby plays a role to the mother.
