Microbiome: Your Child's Building Blocks to a Healthy Life
This is an introductory guide designed to help you the reader better understand the miraculous tiny helpers in and on our bodies known as microbiome.
Micro Whaaa?
Microbiome refers to the collection of bugs (fungi, bacteria, and even viruses) so tiny that one needs a microscope to see them. These teeny tiny organisms live in and on our bodies.
What's so important about a bug?
Contrary to what many may think, microbes are absolutely vital for optimum health. Microbials directly influence brain health, the nervous system, digestive system, immunity and a wide range of bodily functions. The gut microbiome or lack thereof creates the building blocks for a healthy or unhealthy life for years to come.
For the purposes of this guide, we will focus on the infant's gut microbiome.
Where does the microbiome come from? An infant's microbiome is the first line of defense of their newly developing immune system. Think of their immune system as a blank canvas and their microbiome as the medium used to create the picture. Babies are born sterile. They literally get their initial microbiome from their mother when passing through the birth canal. After which they receive their microbiome from breastfeeding and their environment, including contact with family.
How does one go about supporting the development of a robust microbiome colony?
Since several factors negatively impact the development of infant microbiome such as: c-section, formula feeding, perinatal antibiotics, and the separation of mom and baby after birth it is critical to implement practices that encourage the most advantageous development of the microbiome.
What does that mean for babies born via cesarean section?
Well, babies born by cesarean delivery have less diverse microbiome and are at higher risk for various health issues later in life. Studies have shown that for babies born via c-section, it is essential to swab the vaginal fluids of the mother and wipe the baby's skin, nose, and mouth so as to manually colonize the babies gut microbiome and kickstart their immune system. While vaginal swabbing is not a “fix-all” solution, it is a super simple and effective way to offset the negative influence that c-sections have on the microbiome, thus creating a bit of a “middle ground” scenario.
What's all the fuss about formula?
Simply put, when it comes to establishing a healthy microbiome colony, nutrition is key. Science shows that breast milk, which is in fact, a type of tissue, actually feeds the infant gut microbiome. More specifically, complex sugars called human milk oligosaccharides support the infant's newly forming immune system by way of the gut microbiome. It's the HMOs within the milk that affects brain and nervous system development thus initiating the “gut brain connection.” HMOs strengthen the immune system and protect and strengthen the intestinal barrier. Formula just cannot provide the total nutrition that a new human needs. Of course, there's a lot of stress surrounding feeding a baby, and one does not want to add mental burdens to the equation. Stress actually reduces breast milk. Ultimately, a healthy growing baby along with a mentally sound and supported parent is the goal. Providing breast milk in any fashion (breastfeeding, pumping, and/or donor milk), especially long term for the first 2 years of life, encourages a healthier life.
How do antibiotics affect the microbiome?
Healthy infant microbiome is linked to healthy maternal microbiome. Antibiotics offsets the balance of the gut microbiome therefore contributing to increased health issues whether administered to the mother and/or infant. If one does have to take antibiotics then rebuilding the gut microbiome is vital and can be done via diet, lifestyle, and the use of pre and probiotics.
Are the first 24 hours of life important for microbiome development?
The first 24 hours of life are extremely important for microbiome development. This time frame influences the life long make up of the gut’s microbiome. Research shows that the hospital environment increases the risk of the colonization of harmful microbes. More interventions equals higher disruption of microbial development.
Therefore, labor and delivery and the early exposure to mother's microbiome via skin to skin, breastfeeding and bonding in the same room is absolutely crucial for a healthier life!
The microbial ecosystem is delicate. Understanding how to support it as well as what influences its development is key in establishing a powerful foundation for lifelong well-being.
**Microbirth.com is a great resource for parents to educate and empower themselves regarding infant microbiome and its connection to breastfeeding. I highly recommend anyone wanting to learn more information about the infant microbiome to use the platform.
Lalita Love
Sacred Waters Holistic Care
