The Poop Smoothie Solution: A Surprising Health Boost for Babies
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing microbiome expert and documentary maker Toni Harman on my podcast. It’s where I first heard about ‘poo milkshakes’ as a way to restore baby’s gut microbes that were disrupted during/after birth due to antibiotic use and cesarean births (as baby isn’t exposed to the vaginal and rectal microbes). It sounds UGHHHHHHH, I agree, BUT the alternative is an increased risk of long-term metabolic health issues for your baby. Let’s see exactly what this poop smoothie entails.
Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of FMT in restoring the gut microbiota of cesarean-born infants to a state similar to that of vaginally born infants. In a proof-of-concept study, a single administration of maternal FMT at birth resulted in sustained normalization of the infant’s gut microbiota for at least three months, indicating significant long-term benefits for your growing baby.
Introduction to FMT: Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) is a procedure in which beneficial gut bacteria from a donor’s stool (poop) are introduced into the gastrointestinal tract of another individual. In the context of infants, particularly those born via cesarean or exposed to antibiotics early in life, the donor is typically mom. FMT aims to re-establish a healthy gut microbiota, thereby supporting optimal health outcomes.
Why Would My Baby Need This?: Babies born by cesarean miss out on exposure to beneficial maternal microbes during birth, which are crucial for the initial colonization of their gut. Additionally, early antibiotic use, while often necessary for fighting infections, can disrupt the delicate balance of the infant’s gut microbiota by eliminating both harmful and beneficial bacteria. Mom’s Poop Smoothie offers a method to restore this balance, promoting the development of a healthy microbiome.
Steps for Doodie Delight:
Collection: Stool samples are obtained from mom, who undergoes rigorous screening to ensure the absence of harmful pathogens.
Preparation: The stool is processed to concentrate the beneficial bacteria, ensuring the preparation is suitable for administration.
Administration: The processed stool is administered to the baby, typically via an oral route (breastmilk), to introduce the beneficial bacteria into the infant’s gut.
Health consequences of normal Vs abnormal microbe development.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36093611/
Benefits for Babies:
Restoration of Natural Microbiota: FMT effectively reintroduces a diverse and healthy microbial community to your baby’s gut, replicating the natural colonization process.
Reduction of Health Risks: Establishing a healthy gut microbiota early in life can decrease the risk of developing allergies, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders.
Immune System Support: A balanced gut microbiota is essential for the proper development of the immune system, aiding in the prevention of infections and diseases.
Is it Safe? Ensuring the safety of FMT is crucial. Current research indicates that with appropriate screening and preparation, FMT is safe for infants. Moving forward, further studies are needed to refine these methods and establish FMT as a standard practice. This will help ensure that all babies, regardless of how they are born or early antibiotic exposure, can achieve a healthier start with a balanced gut microbiota. Let’s be clear I’m not advocating you make your own milkshakes for your baby.
During screening in one study, 29% (5 of 17 moms) screened positive for harmful microbes, four had GBS, and one mom had herpes. A single case of suspected hepatitis was also found. Study findings warn against unsupervised, parent-driven maternal microbiota transfer (vaginal or fecal) to neonates because the probability of transmitting harmful microbes appears to be high.
(The partner’s role (male/female) in microbial inheritance is currently not well understood, but a recent work suggests it increases in importance after the first year of life).
**Does Vaginal Seeding Immediately After a Cesarean Help?
Gut ‘seeding’ immediately after a cesarean did get some attention in recent years. But a closer look shows that bacteria from the vagina are suited for living in the vaginal environment and usually don’t settle well in a baby’s gut. Three studies tested if adding these bacteria to babies born via C-section (by swabbing them with vaginal fluids or giving them the bacteria orally) would help. None of the studies showed that these methods restored the normal gut bacteria balance, although one study did manage to introduce some gut bacteria effectively. Interestingly, this study found that vaginal seeding might have long-term benefits for the baby’s skin bacteria, suggesting it could be helpful beyond just the gut.
Note:
Mindfulness is also associated with healthier gut microbes.
