As we are coming up on flu season it is no surprise that we are seeing more articles discussing the urgency for pregnant woman to get vaccinations, so that in turn they give their baby antibodies to protect them from common illnesses they will be exposed to after birth. I understand this urgency and see how many vaccinations provide immune resiliency. However, the information given to help moms protect their baby from illness after birth is incomplete.
Vaccinations are far from being the only valuable method to providing your developing baby with a strong and more resilient immune system.
If you choose to vaccinate your baby then you still want to build their immune system to support the vaccine. If you choose not to vaccinate your baby then you still want to build their immune system so you can build upon their health after birth.
Remember it all starts before they are born no matter what you choose to do afterwards.
Cultivating a healthy gut:
The gut is known to be the home of our immune system thanks to all the friendly bacteria that live there. Without it we would be in serious trouble. To help your baby’s good bacteria cultivate and grow to create a strong immune system there are a few key things to know.
Probiotics
Yes, consuming probiotics while pregnant help build your baby’s immune system. Remember everything you consume your baby does too. Even though their gut is not fully formed this healthy bacteria still impacts them much like exposure to bad bacteria does.
Probiotics help strengthen the intestinal walls and help the body breakdown and use nutrients. They also help protect us from harmful microbes in our GI tract. Outside of the gut they protect us from having food allergies and skin problems. If you are having adult allergies and skin issues then it is a good time to start adding some probiotics into your diet STAT. BONUS!! This also helps protect your little bun in the oven from having food allergies and skin problems as well. You can take probiotics, eat yogurt, kefir, Kombucha (make sure it has no alcohol), kimchi, and other fermented foods.
To learn more about probiotics go here and here.
Breast feeding
There is a strong, interconnected relationship between a mother’s immune system and her baby’s during breastfeeding which protects them both from infections. Breastmilk is not just a nutritive source for babies but also holds immunologic components as well. This makes sense when you think about it because if we stopped to look at this from an evolutionary standpoint, the gut has been finely tuned to develop based on a diet of breastmilk over a baby’s first 1-3 years of life.
Good gut health is also linked to mood too which brings me to the next segment
In times of stress I recommend you F.L.O.P.:
You already know that stress decreases gut bacteria. But guess what? Our emotional health can be a sign that we are low in good gut bacteria. It is like the whole idea behind “what came first? The chicken or the egg?” If stress is a factor for you then read on!
Remember your baby is impacted by the stress you go through as well. They get exposed to the stress hormones and their brain is programed to think and react based on the emotional environment within your body. This can be either a positive thing or not so positive thing. To read more about how stress impacts your bun in the oven read here.
Rather than giving in and allowing the stress to take over I recommend you F.L.O.P.P.
Fun) It has probably been a while since you’ve had a Girls Night Out so rally up your close friends for some Mocktails and girl time. There is nothing like having quality girl time to boost our mood and make life’s crazy moments seem more like an adventure than a masterpiece that has fallen apart.
Laugh) It is no secret that “laughter is the best medicine” and has proven to boost the immune system so naturally I recommend it. Thankfully it is one of the easiest ways to improve your health, especially when you are having fun. If in need for a quick fix find some bloopers to watch on youtube or vimeo, go to a comedy show for a date night with your spouse, watch one of your favorite shows that make you laugh.
One thing) What is at least one thing you miss doing that you haven’t done since you got pregnant? I am sure there is a pregnancy modification that we can come up with if it is not exactly “pregnancy approved”. Go out dancing or even to a concert! I recently went to a New Kids on the Block Concert with TLC, and Nelly. While I was there grooving to the music I saw this expecting mom dancing to every song and having just the best time ever. I thought to myself, “Now she knows how to have fun at a concert and man does she have some great moves!” Figure out what you miss the most and find a way to be able to do it.
Pampered) When was the last time you were pampered? If you have to think about it that is the first sign that it has been way to long! Go get a massage, soak in a warm bath (as long as your body temperature does not raise above 102 degrees Fahrenheit) with soothing music playing, some toxic free candles or essential oil diffuser, and even some flower petals in the water. My favorites are lavender and roses since lilacs can’t be found.
Play) As we get older we forget to play. You might as well start getting used to it now because babies love to play. A couple of my favorite games to play are The Game of Things, Cards against humanity, and Pictionary. Play with Nerf toys with your husband and kids (if you already have children).
These are just 2 ways that you can help your baby develop a strong immune system. See which option works best for you to start and move on from there. Bottom line, anything you need to do for yourself to have illness resiliency will be transferred to your baby. It does not have to be rocket science, just health. 😉
Your P.I.P. (Partner in Pregnancy),
Erin