Baby probiotic to restore gut health after IV antibiotics during labour for group b strep?

[birthofawoman]

Will be taking intravenous antibiotics during labour in about two weeks due to group b strep. Not thrilled with the idea of my newborn baby being exposed to antibiotics first thing, so I was wondering if anyone knows of a newborn/baby probiotic that I could give him to help give his body back some good bacteria? I plan to exclusively breastfeed, but I know that it can take a while to get the hang of. Just worried about his gut health. Maybe MN isn't the place to be asking for advice of this nature...

Hello! I used a three daily dose acidophilus after birth and my daughter didn’t suffer any ill effects from my taking anti biotics after birth.

Bio Gaia for baby, and something for me too.

I wouldn't worrying. The colostrum in the first milk is an absolute powerhouse of antibodies etc. Whilst it won't boost gut micro flora, it will sustain and improve what your baby has left. If you take a good probiotic and prebiotic yourself that too may have an effect on improving your milk. You really can't do everything but it's easy to worry too much, I know. You just have to do the best you can.

Good luck, hope the birth goes well xx

Breastfeeding is the absolute best thing to pump them full of good bacteria.
And don’t worry about getting the hang of it, as long as you have the latch right it’s very straight forward - it’s ALLLL about the latch.

Stroke baby top lip with breast, when they open wide shove as much bottom part in as possible and off you go. It’s when they don’t have enough boob to ‘milk’ that it can be painful. Just shove as much in as possible! maybe look up a YouTube video explaining it. But honestly, relax, you’ll do great!

I used bio Gaia or udo's blend baby ones and consumed a ton of home brewed kefir in same position

Bio Gaia and yoghurt/ Kefir for mum (not heard of other one will look that up!)

infertility I'm trying to brew my own, so far after 2 weeks it's still not what I'd call drinkable. Any tips before I call them back?! I thought it might be worth trying as I've an elcs on Monday. I like the one in Sainsbury's but it's a bit further away and I believe natural is better?!

I love the Sainsbury's one! The morello cherry one is divine 😍 it can take time to get going as the grains have to "wake up" from since they were last in action and get used to different milk etc , try moving it around to a slightly warmer place in your home maybe? Will go faster though so keep an eye and make sure you "burp" it and let the gas out regularly to avoid a kefir explosion 💥 cleaning one of those up was NOT fun.

In all honesty I'm no expert anymore as I haven't done it in a year or two and got lazy since Sainsbury's is so easy. Used to make my own sauerkraut too! Should really get back to it. YouTube has tons of great videos though.

If it's just not working at all like nothing's happened whatsoever after 2 weeks, they've starved and get new grains though

Contact Amanda at Cytoplan. She's amazing

Biocare Infant Probiotic, available on Amazon amongst other sites - these were the only brand recommended to me for my newborn, by my GP (but very into alternative/complementary health) friend.

Agree with PP - a good probiotic and plenty of fermented foods for you, and breastmilk only for baby. If you want to preserve the virgin gut then you shouldn’t give anything else anyway.

Thank infertility, things are happening definitely but it's pretty foul so far.., think I need to get to it after 36 hours which I keep missing; 12 is not enough time and longer than 36 is too thick and foul!

I'm leaving the jar open; shall I close it and burp?!

Feels like more bother than a baby at the mo!!

I did... but yes more bother than a baby babies don't explode over you if you forget to burp them with quite as much force. It's like a bomb, seriously!

Its amazingly good for you but if it gets too stressful- Sainsbury's all the way lol

Thanks infertility, I suspect many Sainsbury's trips. The morello cherry is lovely but the other one with the cow face was extra tingly and seemed to have more strains - both nice!

I've found a good YouTube vid and I might be leaving it a tad too long. Going to see if can rein it in!

When it doesn't quite work, I found blending it up with a banana made it more drinkable too

Ooh ok. I'm thinking of adding cherries (defrosted from frozen) and doing a second brew as just seen on YouTube. See how we go.

I think when I've tasted it I've wondered if it's actually too brewed to be safe!!

I remember wondering that - think there are things you can get to check alcohol content and be sure but what they are now I'm sorry I cannot remember. I've become a very lazy kefir evangelical 🙈

You don’t need to give him anything other then breast milk. It will not effect their gut.

@infertilitybitch - success! Think I've been leaving it too long, also I think the grains have grown a lot so using up the milk. Shorter time and seems great, have added some cherries for a second brew :) thanks for the tips (look on YouTube!)