Probiotics: Support for Immune Health, Easing Gas, and Colic Symptoms
August 30, 2016
Probiotics are a form of “good bacteria” that help maintain the balance of organisms in the gut, stomach and intestinal tract. Our bodies naturally contain both good and bad bacteria. When the balance gets out of whack, the bad bacteria take over and people can experience some not-so-pleasant symptoms. Those include an upset stomach, nausea, and irregular bowel movements, to name a few.
Babies are susceptible to the same balancing act of the good and bad bacteria in their gut. Colic, acid reflux and constipation are the most common gastrointestinal issues that infants experience.1
Breastfeeding Plays a Role In Digestive Health
Women that breastfeed have to be mindful of what they consume. Their baby is reliant on them for nutrients, particularly during the first few months of life. When women breastfeed, the nutrients are preferentially partitioned to the mammary glands. This is nature’s way of making sure that infants obtain the vital nutrients they need to survive. Certain foods can be dangerous to babies, including alcohol, high levels of caffeine or fish with high mercury content. Other foods, like broccoli or strong herbs and spices, may cause gas and colic symptoms. You can learn more about foods to avoid while breastfeeding in previous posts:
Probiotics Support Mom and Baby While Breastfeeding
While moms have to be mindful of what to avoid, certain things should be included in their diet while breastfeeding. Probiotics safely and gently promote a healthy digestive system that supports immune function.2 Probiotics are found naturally in certain yogurts and fermented foods. Both moms and babies benefit from these little microbes. Probiotics help regulate the microbes in the gut and support gastrointestinal and immune health.
Some studies show that they may also help with occasional gas, diarrhea and constipation. A study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, showed that over three months, the babies who received probiotics had significantly shorter crying spells and less stomach upset than the babies given the placebo.1
The full extent of the benefit of probiotics is not yet known. Research is ongoing but to date, studies have shown that a daily probiotic may have the following benefits:
- Promote digestive health and regulate the movement of food through the intestines2
- Improved immune system health2
- Promote a strengthened and more resilient stomach lining2
- Deter the growth of bad bacteria in the gut lining2
- Help improve the body’s ability, through its metabolization of food, to produce B vitamins and to extract certain nutrients and minerals, which may promote healthier skin and nerve function2
Vitamins to Supplement Mom & Baby Postpartum
For breastfeeding moms, probiotic supplementation can provide benefits to mom and baby. Prenate® Restore is a once-daily, lactose-free and gluten-free soft gel vitamin that supports expecting mothers during pregnancy and postpartum, specifically while breastfeeding. While it’s designed to support the needs of breastfeeding moms and their babies, it is also appropriate during pregnancy, which means expecting moms can start supplementation before the arrival of their babies and continue through delivery and postpartum. Prenate® Restore can also help infants achieve optimal physical growth and promote brain, immune system and gut development.3-5
To help provide nutritional support for mothers and babies, the Prenate® Vitamin Family offers prenatal vitamin coupons for Prenate® Restore. Click here to get your coupon now and pay only $18 per prescription refill! Talk to your doctor to see if Prenate® Restore may be right for you to help fill nutritional gaps.
