This post probably contains affiliate links, to items I am in love with, and I am confident you will too! For any health advice I give on nutrition and wieghtloss, make sure you check with your doctor, as I am not a health professional. I am just a mama with lots of health and fitness knowledge and experience.
5 Signs Both Mama + Baby Need Probiotics
This post is sponsored by LoveBugs Probiotics, a product I love. Of course all opinions are my own.
Your gut plays an important role in your health, and baby’s health, yet it can often be overlooked. Breastfeeding mothers and breastfed babies benefit greatly from a healthy gut. The gut and brain have a symbiotic relationship, and I’ve learned from personal experience with IBS the impact your gut can have on your emotional and mental state. For me, it seemed that stress affected my gut, and my gut issues affected my stress levels. Because of this, I did a lot of research on the gut, and I found this article and this book to be one of the best resources for fully understanding how your gut is directly connected to your brain. In this day and age, with stress, sugar, processed chemicals, lack of sleep and more, the gut bacteria have a harder time surviving. Antibiotics are often prescribed, which kill both the infectious bad bacteria and the good ones. This means that we are more in need of probiotics than ever.
Because breastfeeding babies and breastfeeding mothers are so closely connected, usually if one needs some gut help, so does the other. But, how do you know whether a mother or baby is in need of some probiotics? I’m going to go over 5 signs that will help guide new mamas on whether or not they need. or their babies need, some bacterial help from probiotics. I’m also going to go over some safe probiotic options for babies and breastfeeding mamas as well.
Probiotics, A Quick Run Down:
You might have heard of probiotics being important, so you are here reading this post, but not really sure what they are. Probiotics are basically supplements containing microflora-changing organisms that play an important role in the overall health and functioning of the gut. Some of the most notable bacteria you find in supplements are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These strains partner up with the flora already in the gut to boost the immune system by helping to fight off the “bad” bacteria, or illness causing bacteria. The ideal ratio of good bacteria to bad is 85/15. Depending on the probiotic you purchase, they can have different blends for different purposes.
Lovebug Probiotics will be taking center stage because of their award-winning, impeccable attention to the gut health of mamas, babies and children. Most brands do not pay close attention to breastfeeding mothers and babies, who need probiotics to stay healthy and happy.
5 Signs Both Mama + Baby Need Probiotics:
Baby is Gassy:
Newborns are often gassy and fussy as their digestive systems are still developing after they are first born. If gas and flatulence continue for months to years after birth, baby may be in need of probiotics, which means that mamas is probably in need of them as well. Breastfed babies receive most of their gut bacteria from mama as they pass through the birth canal, then further fed through breast milk. If baby is breastfed, then mama probably needs some more probiotics. For newborns, these probiotics are safe and specifically made for little tummies. If baby is 12 months or older, these packets for tiny tummies are a great option to get baby the probiotics they need immediately. The Pre + Post Pregnancy Probiotics from Lovebug are a great option for mama to get in her probiotics while breastfeeding, or prior to when baby arrives. If baby is breastfeeding, and under 12 months, it is a great idea for mama to boost her microbiomes, so that they pass through to baby.
Repeated Colds:
If mama and baby seem to be getting colds more often than normal, this can be a sign that they need more probiotics to support their immune system. New babies in particular, need to be protected from colds and sickness, which is why doctors suggest they stay home for the first 6 weeks. Fevers can be dangerous for infants, which means mama needs to do her part in passing healthy gut bacteria to baby in the first few weeks. If there are older children in the house, colds and sickness get passed quickly, but breastfed babies are often less-susceptible to these infections. If baby seems to be catching everything, then it might be a great idea for mama to take some immune support probiotics that will pass through the breast milk to baby and help keep them healthy, and babies can also take their own probiotics to ensure they are getting the amount they need.
Antibiotics Taken By Mama:
Sometimes mamas need to take antibiotics after birth or get some sort of infection and need antibiotics while breastfeeding. If this is the case, then both mama and baby probably need probiotics. If mama takes antibiotics, then those antibiotics pass through to baby as well. It may take some time for symptoms to show up, so it is best to replenish the good bacteria right away. One thing to also note is that the benefits of probiotics are cumulative. If taken regularly, mom and baby will reap the full benefits probiotics have to offer.
Low Mood + Energy in Mama:
Many postpartum mamas experience a lack of energy that is normal, but if a new mother seems to be experiencing a severe lack in energy, and low moods, gut bacteria can be super helpful. As I mentioned in the beginning, the mind and gut are very closely connected. When the gut is out of balance – so is the mind. The gut can often go unnoticed as many mothers are treated for postpartum depression, rather than looking at the gut health. Of course there are cases of postpartum depression that are not related to the gut, but for less-severe situations of negative moods, gut health may be the culprit. Pregnant and postpartum mamas can benefit greatly from probiotics specifically crafted for them, which can help with energy and mood since 90% of serotonin, the feel good hormone, is made in the gut!
Baby Has Constipation or Diarrhea:
Many babies experience a bit of constipation or diarrhea at some point, but if baby is experiencing a constant bout of either, probiotics can be used to support baby’s gut health. Studies have shown that probiotics can help food pass through the gut, to help lessen instances of constipation and gas. In addition, probiotics can help reduce the severity of diarrhea. It is still very important to look into the root cause of constipation or diarrhea to ensure that baby doesn’t have severe food allergies or issues, but probiotics can be a great option to help baby’s gut function properly.
There you have 5 reasons both mama and baby may be in need of probiotics. But where to look for safe probiotics? Lovebug probiotics offer safe, award-winning probiotic supplements for the whole family. This company is impressive with their safe and effective options for everyone in the whole family. I highly recommend all of their products, and I really want you to read their story on how they began.
Just read the LoveBug Probiotics story of how they were created. By a mom, who experienced what many of us experience, but decided to create a supplement that is safe and effective for mamas.
Here’s their story:
Our story starts with bugs. During the birth of her son Hudson, LoveBug Probiotics co-founder Ashley Harris was put on broad-spectrum antibiotics as a preventive measure. Over the next few months both Ashley and Hudson started getting sick. Ashley began suffering constant migraines and noticed a weakened immune system. Her son was very colicky, had digestive issues and then right around the same time both Ashley and Hudson developed eczema. Frustrated, Ashley began a quest to discover what was happening to her and her son, and why. The culprit: bad gut bacteria. Doctors tested Ashley and found her symptoms were tied to a severe imbalance in her gut bacteria and that she had an array of digestive issues including candida, dysbiosis, and leaky gut. Her microbiome had very little of the good bacteria vital to good health – and plenty of the bad bugs.
After discovering both she and Hudson had an imbalance in their gut bacteria, Ashley prodded her husband, co-founder Ben Harris, to get his own labs done. He found an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in his digestive system as well. Research led them to the wonders of probiotics and, after taking them, they noticed a dramatic turnaround in their overall health.
Fascinated, and committed to sharing their newly acquired good gut health with the world, they jumped into serious research. Partnering with leading scientists, they set out to create supplements with only the best probiotic strains, delivering the most bugs to where they’re needed to do their work. LoveBug Probiotics was born!
There you have it. A mother experiencing many of the difficulties that other mothers face, so she decided to create a solution to bring better health and care to mommies and babies. Created by a mom, for moms to make this generation of families healthier from the inside out!
