The Microbiome Starts at Birth

Setting Your Kids Up for Wellness in Adulthood

I’ve recently been working on my upcoming Gut Health Handbook for Women. Of course, men can read it too. But there are a lot of topics in there geared towards women and hormones.

During the various research while writing, one of my biggest topics I wanted to research was the difference in the microbiomes of children. What I discovered is what I already knew—the microbiome begins at birth. In fact, it probably begins even before that, depending on how healthy the mother is. But, most impactful on baby’s microbiome is the birthing process.

Studies show that our microbiome begins at birth, and as baby grows inside of mama’s womb, it begins taking on some of her own microbiome. However, he or she doesn’t fully start developing its own microbiome until after birth. Mother’s milk is essential in this role of health and microbiome creation, because her milk contains essential vitamins, minerals, antibodies, and bacteria that begin the cultivation process of a healthy microbiome. 

Oftentimes our food and environmental allergies begin as babies, because so many children are supplemented with formula or foods that their stomach is not yet ready to process. For example, one of the worst things you can do is start putting rice or oatmeal in your baby’s bottle when they are still under six months of age. Your baby’s gut is not yet strong enough to handle this, and needs real whole foods (not just grains) when they first start eating. Babies shouldn’t be taking in any food until they are actually interested in eating food, and have the ability to process it. 

But let’s back up a bit—you can set your children up for success by keeping their microbiome in mind as soon as they are born.

Here are some ways you can keep their gut in working order.

Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding

It’s widely known now that breastfeeding is better than formula feeding. The main reason for this is because babies can digest breast milk better than formula. Their little bodies were designed for milk from a human mother that sustains a 6 to 9 lb baby, not a cow mother that’s milk is created to sustain a 40 lb calf at birth.

Coming from someone who struggled with nursing my first two babies, I realized the third time around that I needed to do a few things. First, nurse on demand. It’s going to be inconvenient the first two months, but you won’t regret it. Second, ditch the breast pump. Don’t even try to pump until you are at least a full eight weeks into your journey. Actually, I have never pumped an ounce of milk with my third baby.

If you have to supplement, you can get tested and safe breast milk from milk banks. Or you can opt for sheep or goat’s milk. Sheep and goat’s milk are the closest to a human mama’s milk. You can also use raw cow’s milk, but there are quite a few things you need to add to it to make it efficient enough.

The Weston A. Price Foundation has a great recipe for raw milk formula supplement. CLICK HERE to see how to make your own formula at home.

Supplements if You Supplement

If you have a need to supplement your baby with formula or another source, you can purchase probiotics just for children that will help cultivate the microbiome of your little one. Is it as good as breastmilk? Not hardly. You can purchase an over-the-counter probiotic, or you can add drops of fermented food liquid into your baby's mouth each day.

Opt for a Vaginal Birth Instead of a C-Section

Even before the breastfeeding and supplements, you can help your baby’s microbiome out (if possible) by opting for a vaginal delivery instead of a c-section. Again, if possible. It is understandable that some c-sections are necessary in an emergency.

When baby comes through the birth canal and delivered naturally, he or she comes into contact with mother’s bacteria that helps cultivate their microbiome. When a baby is born via c-section, they do not come into contact with the same bacteria.

Introduce Ferments Early

When our second son was born, we decided to start him on ferments at a more early age. This meant he was introduced to sour foods first, and then more sweeter foods later. We did the same thing with our third child, and now they both love fermented food. Starting their palates and preference at a young age is crucial to them having a healthy microbiome throughout their teen and adult years.

For example, the only reason I love sauerkraut is because my mother loved it and she fed it to us as children. My children are the same way.

Feed them Soluble Fiber Rich Foods

Giving your children foods that are rich in soluble fiber helps clean out their gut and liver. Choose to give foods each day that are rich in soluble fiber, preferably three times a day.

Some examples of these foods are sweet potatoes, beans, lentils, quinoa, meats, and whole grains.

Feed Them Prebiotic Rich Food

Prebiotics feed good bacteria in the gut. As you begin to offer them food, in addition to the soluble fiber rich foods, offer them prebiotic rich foods, too. Some examples of these are found in raw versions of the following: garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, dandelion greens, bananas, and seaweed. In general, fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains work well as prebiotic rich food.

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As you continue to steward your children in a good and healthy microbiome, continue to opt for organic or non-gmo foods, and you should eat them too!