Why Probiotics Postpartum?

Aren’t probiotics just a wonderful thing! Healthy tummy = Healthy mummy 
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A plethora of research has found that consuming probiotic supplements beginning in the 1st trimester of pregnancy and continuing through to at least the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding can help women lose weight after the birth. Supplements with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were linked to less central obesity BMI > 30

Recent research has also revealed that probiotic supplementation may help reduce the risk of postnatal depression and anxiety. The gut-brain connection can be targeted through modulation through the immune system and anti-inflammatory pathways. More research is needed in this area however!

Probiotic use can be especially important if you are required to take antibiotics for any reason in your pregnancy or postpartum period (really any time you take antibiotics, you can benefit from use of probiotics). This is because antibiotics wipe out all bacteria in the gut, the good and the bad. Probiotics help rebuild your guts ecosystem! 

When mamas consume probiotics, the health benefits also find their way into breast milk and are passed on to baby.

Probiotics can also be given to baby directly. They can be added to a bottle of milk, rubbed on your nipple or put on your finger and given to your baby orally.

Benefits include reducing the risk of allergies, asthma, eczema, food sensitivities, colic, diarrhoea and common illness (colds and flu).

Research shows that good probiotic exposure in infancy can actually help optimize baby’s weight later in life.

@ThePregnancyCulture  : Caitlin (Midwife and Nurse)

From: @Thepregnancyculture