The role of the gut microbiome during pregnancy

If you’re currently pregnant, then improving your gut health could be one of the biggest things you can do to help both yourself and your baby.

Your gut health can play an essential role in laying the foundations of our health later in life and it is widely accepted that the first 1,000 days (from conception to two-years old) are the most significant period in a child’s development. Scientists agree that the gut microbiome affects virtually all aspects of human health, including your baby’s chance of ending up with autoimmune conditions like eczema, IBS, diabetes, obesity, coronary heart disease, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and mood disorders.

The time before, during and after birth is a time when the gut microbiome takes centre stage in human health and during this window of time your baby will inherit his or her microbiome and this genetic inheritance is then sealed by the method of birth, as well as the baby’s diet after birth.

Why is gut health so important during pregnancy?
The lining of your gut, like every surface of your body, is covered in trillions of microscopic creatures, mostly bacteria. These organisms create a micro-ecosystem called the microbiome. Each person’s microbiome is as unique as their fingerprint and the mix of bacteria in your baby’s body will be different from everyone else’s. This mix is determined partly by your gut microbiota – the environment that your baby is exposed to at birth – and partly from diet and lifestyle after birth. It’s therefore of primary importance that your own gut is in great shape, so that you can get your baby off to the best possible start!

How can you get your gut into great shape?
The key to a healthy microbiome is nourishing a balance among the nearly 1,000 different species of bacteria in your gut and one of the ways to maintain this balance is by adding living microbes directly to your system (friendly bacteria supplement).

Generally, friendly bacteria supplement are safe to take during pregnancy and the strains of friendly bacteria used within Zita West’s Pregnakalm have all been scientifically tested by our partner Probio7 and are proven to be safe for both mother and baby.

Pregnant women can support many aspects of their health naturally with a friendly bacteria supplement. They may find their digestion is just not the same, or they may want to boost their immune system or avoid developing health conditions they had suffered in a previous pregnancy. The benefits of friendly bacteria supplement for women in pregnancy are far-reaching, influencing the following areas:
• Intimate health
• Mood and wellbeing
• General immunity
• Gestational diabetes
• IBS and bloating
• Constipation
• Morning sickness

Perhaps one of the best gifts a mother can give her baby is a balanced, healthy and diverse gut microbiota, and supplementing your diet with a friendly bacteria supplement product to help achieve this is one of the most efficient ways to achieve that.