Whether you’re trying for a baby, currently pregnant or coping with a new-born, there’s one simple thing you can do to positively impact things for both you and your baby – improve your gut health.
Imagine your gut microbiome is like a tiny, beautiful Amazon rainforest, filled with all kinds of diverse living organisms. This natural ecosystem is responsible for your – and your baby’s – digestion, mental health, disease protection, heart health, brain health, strong bones, and clear skin.
Unfortunately, modern life takes its toll on your gut microbiome. Chemicals, stress, sugar, antibiotics, and pollution can kill off your gut bugs, depleting the diversity of your microbiome. This damage is called ‘gut dysbiosis’ and it has been linked to health issues for you and your baby including the following:
- Acne
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea
- Asthma/allergies
- Autism
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancer
- Dental cavities
- Depression and anxiety
- Diabetes
- Eczema
- Gastric ulcers
- Hardening of the arteries
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Malnutrition
- Obesity
Your baby inherits his or her microbiome from you
Each person’s microbiome is as unique as their fingerprint. The mix of bacteria in your baby’s body will be different from everyone else’s mix. This mix is determined partly by your gut microbiota – the environment that your baby is exposed to at birth, whether the birth is natural or via C-section – and partly from diet and lifestyle after birth.
So, it’s of primary importance that your own gut is in great shape, so that you can get your baby off to the best possible start!
The bond between mother and baby begins even before birth
The journey to motherhood is as extraordinary as it is transformative. The countless changes a pregnant woman’s body undergoes is exciting yet can also be overwhelming. During pregnancy, your body undergoes significant hormonal changes and increased nutritional requirements. Meanwhile, your gut microbiota evolves to support you and your developing baby’s changing needs. An imbalance can lead to digestive discomfort, constipation, and bloating. Maintaining a healthy gut becomes more important than ever. Eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, protein, and wholegrains is pivotal in promoting your digestive and gut health and your overall wellbeing, and that of your developing child.
Probiotics can promote a balanced gut microbiome thus reducing the fermentation of undigested food in the gut that often leads to bloating and excessive gas. Incorporating fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut into your diet can also help create and maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
There are trillions of beneficial bacteria located in our digestive tract which play an essential role in maintaining our health – a balanced and diverse gut microbiome is essential for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as immune system support.
New-born babies acquire these beneficial bacteria from their mother: during a natural delivery, breastfeeding, and through skin-to-skin contact, including kissing. This transfer is essential for the development of the baby’s digestive and immune systems. In fact, the first 1000 days of a baby’s life are crucial. From day one through to two years, contact with beneficial bacteria and the development of this microbiota is essential.
The photo shows my daughter-in-la, Anzhelika, when she was pregnant with my now 4-year-old granddaughter, Jessie. In addition to having an incredibly healthy diet, she took a number of supplements during her pregnancy, including our For Women probiotic capsules and Omega 3 capsules. I am pleased to say she had a very healthy pregnancy and a wonderfully healthy baby!
How do probiotics benefit you and your baby?
Research shows that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome during pregnancy may reduce the risk of allergies in childhood as well as later in life. In fact, several scientific studies conclude that probiotics for pregnant women provides several benefits for both mother and child.
Read how our customer, Anna, benefited from taking our For Women probiotics during her pregnancy.
Making probiotics a part of your daily routine can support your digestive health, reduce occasional constipation, alleviate bloating, and promote a thriving gut microbiome. In turn, your growing child also benefits now and in the future. Your connection starts even before you meet.
If you would like to know more about a tailored supplement protocol or have any questions about a digestive and gut health issue, please get in touch.
