Healthy Mums and Healthy Bubs

The Team at Perpetual Wellbeing Naturopaths and Nutritionists, find nothing more rewarding than to help create Healthy Mums and Healthy Bubs! Our practitioners can help you right from balancing hormones and getting you to your best health to guiding you through preconception, pregnancy and your post natal journey.

Once we have got you healthy and you are ready to start or expand your family, we then need to focus on giving your bub the absolute best start to life. Probiotics is just one of a few considerations.

We have long known the benefits of probiotics during pregnancy, but more research is becoming available that not all probiotics are created equal. Not only does each genus and species of probiotic vary in function, so too do individual strains. All mums hope for a happy, healthy child and early exposure to specific probiotic strains may offer protection against numerous health conditions.

Baby’s First Bacteria

When you think of ‘bacteria’, its likely that images of germs and infection may spring to mind…unwelcome guests in your little one’s body! While some microbes can lead to sickness, it’s important to know that the right types of bacteria can be very beneficial for your baby, helping his or her little body grow and function. In fact, did you realise that as a mother, all of the bacteria and other microorganisms living inside your body (known as the microbiota) have a significant bearing on the evolution of your baby’s microbiota? This is because babies are initially exposed to their mother’s bacteria during birth, and then through breastfeeding and skin to skin contact. Infants continue to make friends with microbes through a love of playing in the dirt, patting animals and touching everything in sight! Interaction with these wonderful microbes (or a lack thereof), largely determines your baby’s health and vitality, collaborating to support development and future health.

Happier, Healthier Mums = Happier, Healthier Babies

Taking good care of yourself during pregnancy and breastfeeding in turn promotes the health of your growing baby. One simple way that you can support your own health and vitality is by taking a daily strain specific probiotic. Certain strains also aid blood glucose control during pregnancy, reducing the risk of gestational diabetes. Scientifically researched probiotics enhance the health of the mother’s microbiota and support digestion, immunity and overall wellbeing; significantly, these benefits also pass onto your baby.

The Birth of Optimal Health

Probiotics can be safely taken by the mother while pregnant and breastfeeding, and can also be given directly to the baby if not being breastfed.  In infancy, benefits include improved digestion and immune function, preventing the development of eczema and infection. Advancing into childhood, specific probiotic strains may even reduce the incidence of behavioural conditions such as attention deficit disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

Essential Probiotics for Both Mum and Bub!

The following probiotic strains are important for the health of you and your baby:

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus(LGG®): regulates immunity to reduce eczema and allergies in the infant, and also lowers the risk of behavioural complaints in childhood.
• Bifidobacterium animalisssp lactis (BB-12®): BB-12® helps promote healthy blood sugar control for mums during pregnancy, and also decreases susceptibility to allergies in children.
• Bifidobacterium breve(M-16v): an invaluable strain for reducing the infants’ risk of developing eczema.
• Bifidobacterium longum(BB536): aids in establishing a healthy intestinal environment in early life, for improved overall health.

There are many different brands and combinations of probiotics available to the public, but remember, not all probiotics are created equal. Before prescribing a probiotic, we make sure a number of factors have been met:

• Have the specific strains and doses of probiotics been researched
• Have they shown to be clinically effective
• Can all strains be positively identified at post-manufacture microtesting to validate live, full strength organisms until expiry.

If you are thinking of starting or expanding your family, come in and have a consultation with one of our Naturopaths and Nutritionists, who will give you some clear guidelines and advice for a Healthy Mum and Healthy Bub!

To book your appointment, call our reception on 07 3218 2799, or book online here.