Supporting Your Baby’s Microbiome: Why Infant Gut Bacteria Matters
This post is sponsored by Evivo, all opinions are my own.
It’s no secret, the gut, gut bacteria and a balanced microbiome are all becoming household terms. Most doctors and moms understand the importance of a healthy microbiome and its implications on the health of both the baby and the mother. Although researchers continue to debate how much influence parents can have on their child’s microbiome, or landscape of gut bacteria, there is general agreement that birthing procedures and nutrition should be optimized to support a healthy microbiome.
In Chinese medicine, the connection between a mother and a child is profound, with the health of one affecting the health of the other. It is fascinating to understand that this connection is clearly demonstrated when it comes to talking about the microbiome. Studies show that a significant portion of the infant’s microbiome is determined in utero. As a pregnancy continues, the microbiome continues to develop, influenced by the course of pregnancy, delivery, and procedures and medications given through pregnancy and delivery. There is a transfer of this bacteria at birth from mom to baby in a normal vaginal delivery. As the baby passes through the birth canal, the baby acquires bacteria from the mom, which can start to populate the baby’s gut microbiome. For these reasons, babies that have undergone C-sections can be at a disadvantage when it comes to optimizing their microbiome. (1)
The good bacteria that healthy infants need include bacteria in the Bifidobacterium family, particularly B. infantis. Almost ninety percent of a healthy infant’s gut bacteria is made of B. infantis, but degrades over time. These good bacteria help to improve lactic acid production, aiding digestion and helping reduce risk of common pediatric conditions including reflux, eczema, or allergies. Good gut health is central to a well-functioning immune system and there is evidence that B. infantis can also lower inflammation, protecting against development of inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. (2,3)
Populating an infant’s microbiome with good bacteria can be difficult due to limited options available on the market. Adults can improve the population of Bifidobacterium through the use of fermented foods, including kombucha, kefir, and fermented vegetables including sauerkraut. Infants, however, need other options.
That’s why I’m proud to partner with one of the only clinically proven probiotics to restore Bifidobacterium in infants—Evivo. Almost nine out of ten babies need Evivo, the only probiotic clinically proven to restore the good bacteria, B. infantis, while reducing the bad bacteria in a baby’s gut by 80%. Evivo helps capture all the special nutrients, human milk oligosaccharides, from your breast milk that are otherwise indigestible by baby, converting them into additional nutrients.
With the increasing research on the importance of B. infantis in both preterm and full term infants, supplementing with Evivo is an encouraging option. Evivo closes the gap for moms and doctors looking for safe, effective probiotic supplementation in infants.
Interested in purchasing? Use my codes below!
$10 off 4 week starter kit: HCP610
$20 off 8 week of greater starter kit: HCP620
All are valid through 6/30/18 and are active for the first 500 respondents for each code.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29519955
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29488411