microbiota

(3) rss icon
Drinking for Two: Breastfeeding the Developing Baby’s Gut Microbiota

When a mother breastfeeds her baby, she supports both the development of her child and the microbes in the child’s gut. Breast milk contains unique carbohydrates called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that cannot be digested by the baby. Instead, these HMOs reach the gut to be used by the gut microbes. Bifidobacteria, among other gut microbes, help degrade HMOs and produce beneficial product in the baby’s gut.

Read more