How to Support Your Baby’s Microbiome

In our last blog post, we talked about how important the microbiome is and some ways you can support your microbiome during pregnancy. Once your baby arrives, you might be wondering what you can do to optimize their health by supporting their microbiome!

Though a baby's microbiome begins to develop in the womb, they are born with very few gut bacteria! Research has shown that the first few months of life are ESSENTIAL for developing a healthy microbiome. A baby’s microbiome is developed in tandem with the immune system and has a big impact on immune health. The microbiome your baby develops now will play a role in their health throughout their entire life.

By adulthood, we have between 500-1,000 species of gut bacteria, all of which are established by the time we are about 3 years old. Our microbiome is vital for our immune health, mental health, and gut health. It’s pretty amazing that the stage is set for this by the young age of 3!

Many things can disrupt the development of a healthy microbiome in babies including cesarean section delivery, limited or no breastfeeding, early and excessive antibiotic use, environmental factors, and too many baths (and even the first bath too soon!) to name a few.

Keep reading to find out how to introduce plenty of friendly bacteria to your baby’s gut!

VAGINAL BIRTH (WHEN POSSIBLE)

Vaginal birth is a great way to support your baby's microbiome! During vaginal birth, the baby is covered with their mom's bacteria- this helps to colonize their microbiome.

Sometimes, cesarian sections are necessary, and they are lifesaving! But as we know, they are done more than is necessary. C-sections may have a negative impact on your baby’s gut microbiome and future health outcomes.

Research shows that babies born via c-section are more likely to develop conditions such as obesity, type II diabetes, and allergies later in life. This may have to do with the fact that babies born via cesarian section are not exposed to their mother’s bacteria like babies who are born vaginally.

Of course, things don’t always go as planned and you can’t always guarantee a vaginal delivery. Don’t worry though! There are several things you can do to introduce your friendly bacteria to your baby even if you had to have a c-section.  

SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOUR BABY BORN VIA C-SECTION

• Plenty of skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. This not only enhances mother-baby bonding, but it is also a great way to introduce your friendly bacteria to your baby and initiate breastfeeding right away. 

• Vaginal seeding or swabbing. Although controversial and still being researched, is one way you can introduce healthy bacteria to a baby born via c-section. This is done by introducing some of the fluids from the mother's birth canal to the baby via their skin, nose, and mouth. 

BREASTFEEDING

Breastfeeding is one of the most important things you can do to support your baby’s microbiome!

Research has shown that breast milk is the main influential factor in the composition of a baby's microbiome and that there is a significant difference in the microbiome of breastfed versus formula-fed babies.

At 6 months, babies who were exclusively breastfed were shown to have a more diverse microbiome and a higher number of beneficial bacteria than those who were given formula.

Breast milk not only provides your baby with all the nutrients and friendly gut bacteria they need, but it also provides maternal milk factors such as secretory IgA, oligosaccharides, and antimicrobial factors. These have an impact on bacterial growth and metabolism- keeping your baby’s gut bacteria healthy and strong!

When possible, feed your baby straight from the breast. Studies show that this provides more beneficial bacteria than pumped breastmilk. There are even beneficial bacteria on your nipple that baby is exposed to when they breastfeed!

It is recommended to breastfeed for the first six months of life and continue to offer breastmilk even when solid foods are introduced until at least the age of one.

HEALTH OUTCOMES BREASTFEEDING MAY INFLUENCE VIA THE MICROBIOME

• Asthma

• Obesity

• Eczema

• Allergies

• Type II Diabetes

• Gastrointestinal Diseases

There are many options when it comes to feeding your baby, and it's not a one-size-fits-all. Your body was meant to feed your baby, and your milk is personalized to exactly what your baby needs! With that being said, breastfeeding is not always easy.

If you are struggling with breastfeeding, don't be afraid to seek support from a lactation professional!

NOURISHING FIRST FOODS

What we eat has the biggest impact on our microbiome health, and the same goes for your baby! That is why breastmilk is the best first food to give a baby to set their microbiome up with a strong foundation.

I know it’s exciting to think about feeding your baby their first foods but try to avoid introducing solid foods until 6 months old. Your baby’s gut is still developing. Solid foods can prematurely alter the gut microbiome before it is ready, which could increase the risk of digestive problems.

Once you do introduce foods, focus on a wide variety, including fiber-rich and whole, organic foods to support gut health.

What you eat while breastfeeding also plays a role in colonizing your baby’s microbiome. Include kimchi, yogurt, kefir, and other fermented foods in your diet as often as possible through pregnancy and breastfeeding!

DO NOT OVER BATHE

We all love that new baby smell! Here is one reason to hold on to that smell by not bathing your baby right after they are born. Bathing your baby too early and too often might negatively affect their microbiome!

The World Health Organization recommends delaying a newborn's first bath by at least 24 hours, or at least 6 hours if 24 hours isn’t possible.

Not only does a delayed first bath help with bacterial colonization from a vaginal birth, but it can also stabilize your baby’s blood sugar, reduce the risk of infections by keeping vernix on the skin, and it improves breastfeeding and mother-baby bonding.

Avoid frequent bathing at home as well. This could strip your baby's skin of beneficial bacteria, and cause skin irritation from overwashing. A few baths a week is more than enough for your new baby!

HAVE A FURRY FRIEND

Having a family pet has been shown to increase the diversity of the microbiome, which as we know increases our health!

One study done on babies found that owning a pet was associated with more Ruminococcus and Oscillospira, which are two bacteria linked to lower risks of childhood obesity and allergies. Another showed that children who grow up with dogs have lower rates of asthma than those who do not have pets.

This goes along with the thought that it is good to let your children get dirty and be exposed to all kinds of things outside. The more exposure we have to animals, the more exposure we get to diverse, beneficial bacteria.

Even more reason to go out and get that cute puppy!

AVOID UNNECESSARY/FREQUENT ANTIBIOTIC USE

Sometimes antibiotics are absolutely necessary. While they are effective at getting rid of harmful bacteria, they can also wipe out the good bacteria that we need!

Because of this, it’s important to minimalize antibiotic use while pregnant and breastfeeding. The same goes for antibiotic use for your new baby. Whenever possible, avoid giving your baby antibiotics to ensure they develop a thriving microbiome.

If you or your baby cannot avoid antibiotics, there are several things you can do to support your microbiome. Eat plenty of prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods- remember prebiotic foods include high fiber vegetables and probiotic-rich foods include yogurt, kimchi, kefir, and other fermented foods and beverages.

THE TAKEAWAY

As you can see, there are so many things you can do in the first few months of your baby’s life to set their microbiome up for success!

Some important things to remember:

• The first three months of your baby’s life are VITAL for the development of a healthy microbiome.

• The foundation for your baby’s microbiome will be set by the time they are 3 years old and will have an impact on their health for their entire lifetime.

• Breastfeeding and vaginal birth are two of the best things you can do to support your baby’s microbiome!

• Do not strip your baby’s skin of beneficial bacteria by over bathing.

• Get a family pet to diversify your baby and your family’s microbiome.

• Avoid antibiotic use in yourself and your baby as much as possible. Take extra measures to support the microbiome if antibiotics are absolutely necessary.

Being a new mama is an exciting time! It can also be a stressful time trying to keep up with everything we “should and shouldn’t do.” If you are looking for extra support in your motherhood journey, we would love to help you!

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References 

1.    Van Den Elsen LW, Garssen J, Burcelin R, Verhasselt V. Shaping the Gut Microbiota by Breastfeeding: The Gateway to Allergy Prevention? Front Pediatr. 2019;7:47. doi: 10.3389/fped.2019.00047

2.    Walker WA. The Importance of Appropriate Initial Bacterial Colonization of the Intestine in Newborn, Child, and Adult Health. Pediatr Res. 2017;82(3):387-395. doi: 10.1038/pr.2017.111

3.    Ma J, Li Z, Zhang W, Zhang C, Zhang Y, Mei H, et al. Comparison of Gut Microbiota in Exclusively Breast-Fed and Formula-Fed Babies: A Study of 91 Term Infants. Scientific Reports. 2020;10(15792). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72635-x

4.    Dominguez-Bello MG, De Jesus-Laboy KM, Shen N, Cox LM, Amir A, Gonzalez A, et al. Restoration of the Microbiota of Cesarean-Born Infants Via Vaginal Microbial Transfer. Nature Medicine. 2016;22:250-253. doi: 10.1038/nm.4039

5.    Tun HM, Konya T, Takaro TK, Brook JR, Chari R, Field CJ, et al. Exposure to Household Furry Pets Influences the Gut Microbiota of Infants at 3-4 Months Following Various Birth Scenarios. Microbiome. 2017;5(40). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-017-0254-x

6.    Gupta S. Microbiome: Puppy Power. Nature. 2017;543:S48-S49. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/543S48a

7.    Marshall L. Baby Microbiome: Nurturing Your Baby's Healthy Bacteria. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/baby-microbiome#1. Published September 30, 2019. Accessed November 22, 2021.

8.    Breastfeeding and the Microbiome. OHSU. https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-medicine/moore-institute/breastfeeding-and-microbiome. Accessed November 22, 2021.

9.    Sherman J. Establishing the Infant Microbiome. Eco Parent. https://ecoparent.ca/eco-wellness/establishing-infant-microbiome. Published July 6, 2021. Accessed November 22, 2021.