Pregnancy Health: Why Your Microbiome Matters
Image courtesy of @jennaleamcinnes

Pregnancy Health: Why Your Microbiome Matters

As a mum or mum-to-be, you already know that looking after yourself is one of the best ways to look after your baby. But what you might not realise is just how big a role your microbiome plays in that story.

Your microbiome — the community of good bacteria living in your gut — influences not only your own digestion, immunity, mood, and energy, but also your baby’s development from the very beginning.

During pregnancy, factors like your diet and lifestyle, stress levels, exposure to medications or antibiotics, birth mode (C-section or vaginal birth) and how your baby is fed can all shape both your microbiome and your baby’s.

Did you know? Many mums are prescribed antibiotics during pregnancy or birth — whether for infections, GBS, or C-section surgery. That’s why nurturing your microbiome is so important — for your wellbeing and your baby’s.

How a Healthy Microbiome Supports Mum

When your gut is in good balance during pregnancy, it can:
  • Support strong gut and immune health
  • Optimise nutrient absorption so you feel energised and nourished
  • Support healthy mood, sleep, and focus through the gut-brain axis
  • Contribute to healthy birth and breastfeeding outcomes
  • Strengthen your breastmilk microbiome, helping to prevent mastitis and support feeding
Supporting The Maternal Microbiome

How a Healthy Microbiome Supports Baby

Your microbiome is your baby’s first ecosystem — and it starts influencing their health before they’re even born. A thriving maternal microbiome can help:
  • Support your baby’s immune system development in utero
  • Foster healthy brain and cognitive development
  • Reduce your need for medications, meaning less exposure for baby
  • Encourage positive birth and breastfeeding outcomes
  • Lower their risk of allergies, eczema, asthma, and other conditions later in childhood

By looking after your own microbiome during pregnancy, you’re giving your baby the best possible start — from their very first day.

How to Support a Healthy Microbiome in Pregnancy

There are plenty of simple, everyday ways to support your microbiome health during pregnancy for you and bub.

Image courtesy of @mariarrudaa
Image courtesy of @mariarrudaa
Filtered Water & Wholefoods

Filtered water, fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, eggs, grass fed meats, nuts, and seeds are building blocks for a healthy gut. Homemade meals help cut down on additives and processed foods.

Prioritise Rest & Stress Management

Getting support for ensuring adequate sleep and reducing stress is important for overall health and microbiome health.

Low-Toxin Living

Choose gentle, toxin-free cleaning and household products to reduce disruption of your microbiome. Choosing organic fruit and vegetables (or soaking product in water and bicarb for 15mins) helps minimise pesticide exposure.

Pregnancy Probiotics

Evidence-based probiotics, like L. fermentum CECT5716 (originally found in breastmilk), help restore and maintain balance in your microbiome — especially useful after antibiotics/medication use during pregnancy (which is important for C-section or GBS positive mums and their babies). Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, specifically supports a healthy pregnancy and maternal health.

Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: Strengthen Immunity for Two

Whether you’re recovering from antibiotics, having a C-section, or just wanting to optimise your microbiome for you and your baby’s health, Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding is here to help maintain your health and wellness and support your growing baby’s development.

Formulated with L. fermentum CECT5716 — a unique probiotic strain originally discovered in breastmilk — Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding supports mums and babies:

  • During pregnancy: Maintains healthy maternal wellness and supports your growing baby’s development
  • After antibiotics or C-section: Restores beneficial flora for both mum and baby
  • Every day: Strengthens gut health and immune function for you and your little one
  • At first signs of mastitis: Helps relieve symptoms and reduce mild mastitis occurrence

It’s a gentle, almost tasteless powder that mixes easily into food or drinks — making it simple for busy pregnant mums.

*Advise your doctor of any medicine you are taking during pregnancy, particularly in your first trimester. Seek medical advice if mastitis symptoms persist for more than 12 hours or you start to feel unwell.

Join the Qiara Life Club

Because you deserve a village and resources to support you and bub!

When you join our free community, you’ll get access to:

  • Expert webinars on pregnancy health, birth, breastfeeding and infant health
  • Helpful resources and practical tips on pregnancy
  • Exclusive offers on products for pregnancy and beyond
JOIN NOW!
Hanna H. (The Memo) ★★★★★

“Easy to drink and many benefits! I started taking this product in the last trimester of pregnancy and will continue to do so in my PP journey.”

Ingunn W. (The Memo) ★★★★★

“I find it hard to eat enough vegetables and varied food in my third trimester to look after my gut and set bubb up with the best microbiome possible, so this has been an essential add-on in my diet.”

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References

  1. Blanco-Rojo R, et al. (2022). Beneficial Effects of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 Administration to Infants Delivered by Cesarean Section. Front. Pediatr., 07 July 2022. Sec. Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Volume 10 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.906924
  2. Hurtado, J. A., Maldonado-Lobón, J. A., Díaz-Ropero, M. P., Flores-Rojas, K., Uberos, J., Leante, J. L., Affumicato, L., Couce, M. L., Garrido, J. M., Olivares, M., & Fonollá, J. (2017). Oral Administration to Nursing Women of Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 Prevents Lactational Mastitis Development: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Breastfeeding Medicine, 12(4), 202–209. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2016.0173
  3. Sondra Turjeman 1, Maria Carmen Collado 2, Omry Koren. (2021). The gut microbiome in pregnancy and pregnancy complications. Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research Volume 18, June 2021, Pages 133-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coemr.2021.03.004
  4. Archita Mishra et al. (2021). Microbial exposure during early human development primes fetal immune cells. Cell. Volume 184, Issue 13, 24 June 2021, Pages 3394-3409.e20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.039