Protecting Your Baby's Microbiome

Things to consider before and during your pregnancy.

- Toni Harman

For the past six years, my partner and I have been immersed in the world of bacteria. We traveled tens of thousands of miles and interviewed dozens of scientists who are at the cutting-edge of infant microbiome research. It’s been an eye-opening and mind-expanding experience. I’ve learned our human bodies consist of 30 trillion human cells coexisting with even more microorganisms.

The microorganisms that live on and in our bodies are collectively called the microbiome. They include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and other microbes. Our microbes keep us functioning; they help with digestion, metabolism, they are integral to our immune system, and through the gut-brain connection, microorganisms could even impact our mood and behavior.

They may be integral to our health, but we aren’t born with a full set of trillions of microbes. We must acquire them, and the most critical time to do so is the narrow window that surrounds childbirth. The latest research indicates that the microbes acquired in this once-in-a-lifetime event can determine a child’s health for the rest of his or her life.

ABOUT THE INFANT MICROBIOME

During pregnancy, a baby develops in a near-sterile environment. Recent research indicates that the developing fetus might be exposed to a small amount of bacteria from the mother’s womb, placenta and the amniotic fluid.