In doing a bit of research I have been surprised at some of the things I have learned. Here is a copy of an article that I found…
Whilst in your womb, your baby’s intestinal tract is sterile – and so its free from bacteria. From birth though, your baby begins the process of acquiring the friendly bacteria in the gut that play such a critical role in health and wellness.
How your child is born, strongly influences what kind of bacteria your child will acquire. Infants that are born vaginally begin accumulating beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia coli (commonly abbreviated to E. coli) and Enterococcus in the birth canal with the very process of birth. These bacteria form the foundations of a healthy digestive flora and originate from healthy maternal vaginal and fecal flora.
Babies born via cesarean on the other hand, receive a different mix of bacteria at birth. This comes from the maternity hospital itself, notably from nursing staff and equipment and includes Clostridium and Streptococcus.
Following birth, the acquisition of digestive flora continues until your baby is around two to three months of age with most of this beneficial bacteria coming from the mother via touch, suckling and kissing.
The way in which you feed your baby also has a strong influence on his or her digestive flora. A breastfed baby tends to have greater numbers and types of beneficial bacteria than a formula fed infant, notably Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus. These bacteria, specifically those belonging to the Bifidobacteria clan (genera) thrive in the presence of breast milk proteins and constitute up to 90% of a breastfed infant’s micro flora. They help prevent harmful bacteria colonizing the infant’s intestine.
Newborns have an immature digestive system that has never processed food. The gastrointestinal system is literally just learning to function. Muscles that support digestion have not developed the proper rhythm for moving food efficiently through the digestive tract. Furthermore, newborns lack the benevolent bacterial flora (probiotics) that develop over time to aid digestion. This explains why a lot of infants outgrow colic within the first six months.
Antibiotics not only kill bad bacteria but the good also. So if a nursing mother is given antibiotics during labor or while nursing or if baby is given antibiotics, then all the good bacteria (probiotics) are killed. 😦
For me and my children we use “Digestive Health” sold by Core Health Products. They contains 13 different strains of probiotics, over 20 types of digestive enzymes, and several soothing herbs for the gut. The digestive enzymes are extremely important for proper digestion. Many people, children and adults alike, that have digestive problems are not only low on probiotics but digestive enzymes also. You can learn more more about how enzymes are beneficial on my home page.
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To learn more about the symptoms our children suffered from and what we found to help tremendously with their reflux and digestive problems, go to my Home Page!
Martha Koehn, wife to Russ and mom to Quinton, Jackson, and Shiloh Beth
marthakoehn83@gmail.com
Help for Acid Reflux, Heartburn, GERD, Indigestion, IBS, Gastroparesis, and Many Other Digestive Issues 
I had to get a c-section with both of my pregnancies due to health reasons. What are the suggestions in helping my c-section baby gain the proper digestion that a vaginal birthed baby would receive?
Hi Sheena, Thanks for your question. Although I am not an expert, I will give you my ideas and thoughts.
Both of my boys were born c-section and both had very bad digestive problems. But I also know that they have inherited a problem with their pancreas not making enough digestive enzymes. I knew basically nothing about probiotics and enzymes until my boys were ages 2 and 4. When I called a professional nutritionist to see if he could help me know what to do for my boys’s digestive problems, he told me all about how they needed to take a supplement of digestive enzymes and probiotics. We followed his advice and by it made a HUGE difference for my children.
I feel that the best thing you can do for your c-section born babies is to give them a high quality probiotic supplement that has at least 10 strains of stabilized probiotics to get their probiotics built up like they are supposed to be. Some supplements are refrigerated and although I am not saying that those kind aren’t any good, I believe that probiotics that are stabilized, pH balanced, and in a powder form will work much better. If they are pH balanced that means they are able to survive in all the different pH levels of our digestive system. Refrigerated ones are activated when they get to a certain temperature and sometimes they can be activated too soon and not last long enough to be very beneficial.
The product that we use is called “Digestive Health” sold by Core Health Products, It contains 13 different strains of probiotics, prebiotics, numerous types of digestive enzymes, and several soothing herbs. I highly recommend because I and so many others have gotten so very good results with it. But if you are just looking for a probiotic supplement to give your children, I know that that are many different ones out there that are made just for children.
I hope I have answered your question but feel free to ask if you have more.
Can I use this probiotics sold by core health to my 4 mo old baby?
Hi Zayda! I gave “Digestive Health” sold by Core Health Products to my child when she was just 2 weeks old. I am not a doctor so can not tell you that it is ok to give them to your baby but I can tell you that many 4 months olds have had them given to them. 🙂 This page will explain about dosing. https://help4acidreflux.wordpress.com/dosage/
Please feel free to ask more questions if you have them.
Hi, I just discovered your blog when I was desperately googling to find help for my baby’s stomach troubles. She’s only 3 months old, can you give the Digestive Health to babies that young? Or would my taking it (I’m exclusively breastfeeding) be enough?
Thanks!
Hi Chelsea,
Yes, you can give them to to babies that young. On the Core Health Products site it says “This all natural product is designed for men, women and children who suffer from digestion issues and even babies with infant reflux and colic.” There are several ways you can give it. Mix with a small amouont (2-3ml) of water or milk and give with medicine dropper, or mix in with a bottle or pureed food if they are taking that. It is best to start out with a very low dose and slowly work up. I recommend giving 1/4 of a pill a day and then every few days adding in another 1/4 pill. The more you spread out those doses during the day, the better. Some moms have found it works best to work there baby all the way to a 1/4 pill before every feeding/bottle. It is best if only mixed right before giving to baby as the enzymes are activated by nutrients and even water has nutrients in it. But I do know of a mom that has found it works just great to mix a whole pill with 1 tsp of water then divide it into 4 doses with little syringes with caps. They are very easy for her to take along with her in her diaper bag wherever she goes plus that way she doesn’t have to guess at how much of the pill she dumping out or the capsule.
Some babies/children will do just fine with a 1/2 – whole pill 2 or 3 times a day rather than 1/4 at every feeding. But for a baby under a 6 months old, I wouldn’t recommend more than 1/4 pill at a time.
For nursing moms I recommend they first try taking the pills themself before giving directly to baby. I recommend starting with just one pill a day and slowly working up to at least one pill every time you eat. One mom told she was taking 3-4 pills a day and not noticing a big difference in her baby. I suggested she up the dose and in a few weeks she told me she’d started taking 2 with every meal and 1 with every snack and it made a BIG difference for her baby!! Everyone is different and it can depend various things on how many Digestive Health you and/or your baby needs to feel better…. things that can affect that are… how much foods you are eating that still contain the enzymes in them (raw foods), how much enzymes your/baby’s body is capable of producing on its own, how well your/baby’s probiotics are built up, and things like that. So everyone is different.
Be sure to read my page about the possible temporary side effects digestive enzymes and probiotics can sometimes cause when first taking them. https://help4acidreflux.wordpress.com/side-effects-of-probiotics-and-enzymes/ and feel free to ask any more questions you would have!
Can I take these supplements while breastfeeding?
Yes! I will copy and paste a reply I wrote to another mom about this…. 🙂 For nursing moms I recommend they first try taking the pills themself before giving directly to baby. I recommend starting with just one pill a day and slowly working up to at least one pill every time you eat. One mom told she was taking 3-4 pills a day and not noticing a big difference in her baby. I suggested she up the dose and in a few weeks she told me she’d started taking 2 with every meal and 1 with every snack and it made a BIG difference for her baby!! Everyone is different and it can depend various things on how many Digestive Health you and/or your baby needs to feel better…. things that can affect that are… how much foods you are eating that still contain the enzymes in them (raw foods), how much enzymes your/baby’s body is capable of producing on its own, how well your/baby’s probiotics are built up, and things like that. So everyone is different.
Be sure to read my page about the possible temporary side effects digestive enzymes and probiotics can sometimes cause when first taking them. https://help4acidreflux.wordpress.com/side-effects-of-probiotics-and-enzymes/ and feel free to ask any more questions you would have!