RECIPE: ONE HEALTHY BABY

INGREDIENTS*

• 1 pantry & fridge stocked with fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, seafood and lean meats for mum-and-dad-to-be.

• 1 healthy, well-shaped, mobile sperm sample from healthy male.

• At least 1 good quality egg from 1 female, preferably 25-35 years of age.

• 1 dimly-lit, calm birth environment, conducive to a vaginal birth.

• 2 breasts and a patient, willing mother.

• 1 fluffy dog or cat to greet and lick newborn baby.

• 1 home and garden (or pot plants) for new bub to explore and expand microbiome.

• 2 patient and willing parents to introduce healthy and diverse solid foods to bub around 6 months later. Must be ok with walls and floors splattered with mushy food.

• 1 GP who doesn’t overprescribe antibiotics to bub unnecessarily.

• 1 happy, low-stress, supportive family environment for bub to thrive in.

*Please be aware that ingredients may take many months to prepare and collect…Do not leave this until the last minute!

METHOD

• TIP for Parents-to-be: Begin any diet and lifestyle changes well in advance of potential pregnancy, preferably 3, 6, or even 12 months before ‘trying’.
• Take the sperm and egg and mix together around ovulation time. This can be done with a bit of loving on the side, or in the fertility specialist’s office if necessary. 
• Leave for 2 weeks and test for positive reaction.
• If test shows positive, congratulations! You are pregnant. Continue Mediterranean diet and manage stress levels.

• Read up on the benefits of vaginal births for the microbiome of your future bub so that you feel empowered and able to face the challenges associated with vaginal births (if a vaginal birth is an option for you). 
• Prepare the birthing environment. 

• After welcoming newborn baby earthside, present with one of the two breasts. This step may take multiple attempts before a successful latch can be achieved, can cause chafing, and is one of the most difficult, yet rewarding steps of this recipe. 

• Allow baby to wander/crawl/roll/play in house and garden without being overly protective or sterile. If your baby sucks a dummy and drops it on the ground, don’t ever be tempted to wash in anti-bacterial soap…The microbes picked up on the dummy will only make your baby’s gut microbiome more diverse, and more resilient. 
• Let your baby play with your pets. The microbes shared have been scientifically proven to help support the development of a healthy and diverse gut microbiome.
• Chat to your GP and ask questions. Yes, antibiotics are necessary for some illnesses, but make sure your GP is not more heavy-handed than necessary with them, as they are not good for your baby’s developing microbiome.
• Enjoy, kiss, and play with your baby. Manage your stress. Focus on your own health as well as your baby’s health. Happy parents make happy babies, and, in many ways, happiness is one of the foundations of health.

LEARN MORE HERE

The information in this newsletter is provided for general educational purposes only.

Statements or opinions expressed in the newsletter should not be taken as fact, but as opinion on the current state of evidence based science. The content is not (and should not be taken to be) medical advice or an endorsement or recommendation of any specific product or treatment. 

If you require medical attention please seek professional advice from an appropriately experienced health practitioner.