How to give your baby a good gut start: Ask experts Lucy & Lotta - £200 voucher to be won

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Embarking on the journey of parenthood can be both rewarding and overwhelming, especially when it comes to ensuring your baby's optimal well-being. That's why we have invited Lucy and Lotta, experts in baby gut health, to address any concerns or queries you may have on how to give your baby a good gut start. From feeding practices to establishing healthy routines, they're here to provide you with valuable insights and guidance to support your little one's digestive health.

• Everyone who shares a questions on the thread below by 21/06/23 will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
• Lucy and Lotta will be back on the week commencing 3/07/23 to answer some of your questions

About Lucy Upton - Children’s dietician and feeding specialist:
“Lucy Upton AKA ‘The Children's Dietician’ is a Paediatric Dietitian with over 12 years of experience. Her special interests include early years, food allergy, gut health and feeding difficulties. She is a feeding specialist and works in a feeding therapy clinic.”

About Lotta Johansson – Microbiologist at BioGaia:
“Lotta Johansson is a microbiologist with a passion for probiotics. She has a long experience of working with beneficial bacteria. For the last 28 years Lotta has specialised in research on different probiotic L.reuteri strains.”

Here’s what BioGaia has to say:
“We at BioGaia are passionate about probiotics. Products for babies and kids are at our core and we’ve spent the last 30 years on scientific research on gut health and the importance of good bacteria for how we feel. Our products are used and loved by parents in more than 100 countries around the globe.”

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Hello @ButterOllocks, Probiotics have been shown to be beneficial in premature babies as well. Regarding the dose we always recommend the parent to discuss with the health care professional.

Hello @pushchairprincess, No, as far as the research goes there are no foods that inhibits the effect of a probiotic. There are however foods that support the effect of probiotics, like fresh fruits and vegetables.

Hello @HobNobAddict, No as far as the research goes there are no specific diets that inhibits the effect of probiotics. Fresh fruits and vegetables, and some other plant based foods which form part of a vegetarian diet, are known to support the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Hello @Beabeautiful, BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops contains the probiotic bacteria L. reuteri DSM 17938. Some probiotic bacteria do produce histamine but L. reuteri DSM 17938 does not produce histamine nor contribute to increased histamine levels in the body.

Hello @ohdannyboy, L. reuteri Protectis (DSM 17938) is a so called "temporary coloniser". After eating for a while (a month or so), the probiotic bacteria will remain in the gut for a week or two, but then be washed out. L. reuteri Protectis (DSM 17938) is not naturally found in any kind of food (originates from breast milk). In order to get full probiotic effect you need to continue eating.

Hello @chickenpotnoodle, yes you are on to something. Firstly, breast milk is without a doubt the best for the baby, it pretty much contains everything the baby needs in terms of nutrition and antibodies during the first months. Like you mention, our modern way of living is affecting our gut microbiota. The so-called Hygiene hypothesis suggests that antibiotic overuse, eating processed food, cleaning excessively, giving birth by C-section, chlorination of drinking water, are all contributing to a depletion of the beneficial microbiota in the gut. This is thought to result in an inadequate education of our immune system, which may contribute to allergy development and other auto-immune diseases. Consuming a good probiotic might counteract the negative side effects of our modern way of living.

Hello @LittleDeeAndME, Prebiotics are fibers that probiotic bacteria feed on.

Hello @PracticallyFlooredZero, Yes, actually they can. Some studies have shown that L. reuteri Protectis (DSM 17938) found in BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops, can reduce the risk of developing eczema.

Hello @DinkyDaffodil, Yes you can add the drops to food and drinks as long as it is not too hot. It is important to make sure that the drink gets finished.

Hi @HobNobAddict, Yes you can give any preferred probiotic foods e.g. kefir, live yoghurt, pickled vegetables alongside probiotics like L. reuteri DSM 17938 found in the BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops The recommended daily dose of L. reuteri Protectis (DSM 17938) found in BioGaia drops, is 100 million CFU per day (equals 5 drops /day) but safety studies has been done on 1000 times higher dose. So L. reuteri Protectis (DSM 17938) can hardly be overdosed, but that is not necessary the case with all probiotics.. BioGaia probiotic drops can be combined with yoghurt.

Hello @DanBenandBud, The drops have neutral taste but you can for sure add it to food and drinks, if it is more convenient, as long as it is not too hot. This is not the case for fromage frais, however, it is important to make sure that the meal gets finished.

Hello @problembottom. My standout piece of advice here would be a simple one - get in plenty of dietary variety! Research has shown us that variety (sometimes referred to as dietary diversity), especially with plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, pulses, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains can support a healthy gut microbiome. Variety is also very key to help with acceptance of different tastes and textures during the weaning window of opporunity too!

Hi @Dizzywizz. Yes, actually they can. Some studies have shown that L. reuteri Protectis (DSM 17938) found in BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops, given from birth, can reduce the risk of developing eczema later in life. It is important to also remember that other factors, for example genetic factors also play a role in risk of developing both conditions. Children born into a family with a history of allergric disease ('atopy') like eczema, asthma, hayfever and food allergy, are more likely to develop these conditions themselves.

Hello @SnowyMouse, BioGaia Protectis Baby Drops is safe to give for birth and the recommended dose is 5 drops/day, which equals 100 CFUs (colony forming units)

Hi @Porthia, Prebiotic foods are essentially those, which help the beneficial bacteria within the gut grow. Many are different types of dietary fibre which largely reach the gut undigested, thus feeding the bacteria. To support gut health (and overall health!), research does encourage including prebiotic foods as part of a balanced diet. With regards to supplementation, it would always be encouraged that supplementation is given alongside dietary and lifestyle measures to optimise effects. The second part of your quesion is intesting and quite complex and I hope answers your quesion somewhat. Breast milk contains everything the baby needs in terms of nutrition and antibodies during the first months. However, our modern way of living is affecting our microbiota, both the maternal and the developing one of the infant. The so-called Hygiene hypothesis suggests that antibiotic overuse, eating processed food, cleaning excessively, giving birth by C-section, chlorination of drinking water, are all contributing to a depletion of the beneficial microbiota in the gut. This is thought to result in an inadequate education of our immune system, which may contribute to allergy development and other auto-immune diseases. Consuming a good probiotic might counteract the negative side effects of our modern way of living.

Hello @DinkyDaffodil, That is a very good way of expressing it, "they are just a boost". 😊 You can stop and start whenever you want to, pause and start again. After eating for a while (a month or so), the probiotic bacteria will remain in the gut for a week or two, but then be washed out. In order to get full probiotic effect you need to continue eating.

Hello @Beabeautiful, The gastrointestinal tract of babies are thought to be "clean" or "sterile" at the moment of birth. If born vaginally and if the mother has not been on antibiotics or suffer from Candida infections, the baby will get beneficial bacteria from the mother during birth. If a baby is born with C-section, there is a risk that the first bacteria the baby achieve are bacteria from the skin of the mother, nurse or from the partner. Skin bacteria may not be completely beneficial.

Hi @jellybeanpopper, There may be some differences in the probiotics found within full fat and reduced fat yoghurts, related to the level of processing these have gone through. The removal of fat theoretically may reduce the probiotic count, however its also important to note that not all yoghurts contain the same amount of live bacteria (regardless of fat content) so it's worth checking packaging carefully or discuss with preferred brand manufacturers.

Thank you, that is helpful to know.

Hello @Montydoo, You can start and stop whenever you want. However, the probiotic bacteria will only remain in the gut for a week or two when you stop taking them and then be washed out. In order to get full probiotic effect you need to continue eating.

Hi @HobNobAddict. Numerous safety studies have been performed, some from birth and till 1 year of age, with a follow up after 7 years with no adverse effects documented. (Less problems with eczema was seen). (Abrahamsson et al. 2007, 2013)
In another study BioGaia Protectis Baby drops were given to new born babies and significant less crying time and GI disturbances were noticed during the first months of life. (Indrio et al. 2014)

Hello @Redebs, Breast milk is without a doubt the best for the baby, it pretty much contains everything the baby needs in terms of nutrition and antibodies during the first months. Our modern way of living is however, affecting our gut microbiota. The so-called Hygiene hypothesis suggests that antibiotic overuse, eating processed food, cleaning excessively, giving birth by C-section, chlorination of drinking water, are all contributing to a depletion of the beneficial microbiota in the gut. This is thought to result in an inadequate education of our immune system, which may contribute to allergy development and other auto-immune diseases. Consuming a good probiotic might counteract the negative side effects of our modern way of living. Biogaia is a Swedish healthcare company and has never been part of Nestle. Nestle has the right to use our probiotic bacteria in their products.

Hello @itsywitsy, Dosing is the same independent of age and weight, and this is clear on the package. 5 drops per day

@HobNobAddict is the winner of the £200 voucher - congrats! 🎉