Probiotic Support during breastfeeding
Did you know that until relatively recently it was thought that breastmilk was sterile?
Recent studies over the past 10 years have shown that breastmilk actually consists of more than 800 different bacterial species and other micro-organisms, collectively called the human milk microbiota (HMM). This collective of microbes and their interaction with both the mother and baby, has not only beneficial effects for establishing the baby’s microbiome and immune health in early infancy, it also has a long lasting influence on health in childhood years and beyond.
What influences the Human Milk Microbiota (HMM)?
Human breastmilk is both a personalised source of nutrition and an immune supporting ‘microbiome builder’ for babies. Current research suggests that the composition of HMM originates from both the mother and the baby. The mother’s immune system plays a role in transferring beneficial bacteria from the gut to the breastmilk, through what is called the entero-mammary pathway. The transfer of microbes from the baby’s mouth into the breast duct whilst suckling also contributes to HMM and is called retrograde flow.
Similar to the gut microbiota, human breast milk microbiota is influenced by a number of ‘usual’ suspects:
Poor diet (low fibre, high sugar, processed foods)
Stress
Alcohol
Medications (e.g. antibiotics, acid inhibitors)
Environmental toxins: pesticides, chemical additives.
Birth interventions (e.g pre-term birth, induction, C-section, antibiotics, pain medication, trauma)
A disruption of the breastmilk microbiota can lead to a situation called dysbiosis, where there is a lack of both diversity and number of beneficial microbes. This can lead to increased potential for opportunistic overgrowth of certain types of micro-organisms or growth of ‘bad’ bacteria, which may increase susceptibility to inflammatory conditions such as mastitis.
How can probiotics help?
Remember the entero-mammary pathway? Well thanks to this, probiotics ingested orally can positively influence not only the gut health of the mother, but the composition of the human milk microbiota, providing benefits for the baby. The probiotics contained in breastmilk passed to the baby can support the development of their microbiome and immune system. Here’s an outline of the key benefits:
Benefits for mum
Supports maternal gut microbiome which impacts upon digestive function, improving absorption of nutrients transferred to baby via breastmilk.
Reduced risk of digestive issues such as diarrhoea
Reduced risk of developing mastitis
Supports the mother’s immune system
Post-antibiotic support to reduce dysbiosis
Benefits for baby
Reduced gastrointestinal symptoms such as colic, constipation and reflux
Improved immune function and resilience to infection
Reduced chance of developing allergies and eczema
Natural sources of probiotics
If you’d rather not rely on supplements, there are many options for adding probiotic foods to your diet. Fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, miso, kimchi and vinegar all have probiotic benefits.
The importance of dietary prebiotics
Like any living organism, probiotics need a source of nourishment to survive and thrive. Prebiotics are a type of fibre that provide a food source for the microbiome not only for the flora in your gut but for those in breastmilk. Fortunately, prebiotics can be readily sourced from the diet from foods such as asparagus, green bananas, onions, leeks, oats, apples and garlic. Cooked and cooled potatoes and pasta also form resistant starch which is a type of prebiotic fibre. Prebiotic fibres are also available in supplement form.
Safety
Whilst probiotics are considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding it is important to choose a high-quality supplement and always follow the directions for use. Before beginning any new supplementation, it is recommended to seek advice from a health professional to ensure the product is right for you and your current health status.
Michelle Campbell is a degree-qualified naturopath, with a passion for helping your body find its natural balance, offering a holistic and realistic approach to achieving optimal health.
References
Martín-Peláez S, Cano-Ibáñez N, Pinto-Gallardo M, Amezcua-Prieto C. (2022) The Impact of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics during Pregnancy or Lactation on the Intestinal Microbiota of Children Born by Cesarean Section: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 14;14(2):341.
Notarbartolo, V., Giuffrè, M., Montante, C., Corsello, G., & Carta, M. (2022). Composition of Human Breast Milk Microbiota and Its Role in Children's Health. Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition, 25(3), 194–210. https://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2022.25.3.194
Yu Q, Xu C, Wang M, Zhu J, Yu L, Yang Z, et al. (2022) The preventive and therapeutic effects of probiotics on mastitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022 Sep 9;17(9):e0274467.
