The Importance of Gut Health during Pregnancy
Did you know that your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that play a pivotal role in your digestion and overall health? And if you are currently expecting, did you know that your gut health lays the foundation for your child’s lifelong health?
What is the Gut and What is Gut Health?
The gut, or gastrointestinal tract, is the long, continuous passageway in the body that extends from the mouth to the anus. It is home trillions of microorganisms made up of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, known as the gut microbiome. Up to 99% of this microbiome reside in the large intestine.
Gut health refers to the optimal function and balance of the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing you to digest food, absorb nutrients, and go about your day without active digestive diseases or uncomfortable symptoms like bloating, acid reflux, or constipation.
A healthy gut acts as an efficient barrier—absorbing necessary nutrients while blocking harmful pathogens. It is also deeply connected to your overall well-being. A balanced microbiome supports immune function, protects against systemic inflammation, and even influences mood and mental health.[1]
During pregnancy, the gut microbiome plays an important role in supporting both the mother’s health and the baby’s development. For the mother, they help regulate metabolism, control inflammation and optimise nutrient absorption. For the child, they form the foundational seed for the child’s health, continuously shaping foetal brain development and training the immune system before birth[2].
The Maternal-Infant-Gut Axis
The maternal gut microbiome is connected to the developing foetus in many ways. According to Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Dr Chew Kee Seang[3], there is an invisible bridge between the mother and her child that scientists call the maternal-infant-gut axis. This axis transfers beneficial microbes and their chemical signals from the mother’s gut microbiome to the foetus. This continuous, bidirectional transfer begins in the womb and continues through birth and lactation.
“Think of your gut as a thriving ecosystem of tiny helpful helpers,” says Dr Chew. “During natural delivery, you pass the very first seeds, also known as the bacteria of the immune system, to the child. And then, through lactation you continue to send ‘care packages’ of good bacteria and special nutrients that act like fertiliser, helping that garden grow strong.”
Factors that Affect the Gut Microbiome
However, many factors can affect the gut microbiome. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can significantly affect pregnancy digestion health. Hormones such as progesterone slow down the digestive process, which can lead to issues like bloating, constipation, haemorrhoids and acid reflux.
Then, other factors such as a modern lifestyle, stress, and especially diet and mode of delivery play a huge role in shaping the gut microbiome.
“For instance, a child born via C-section to a mother with poor diet may have increased risk of being overweight,” says Dr Chew. “At the same time, the mother often faces her own gut health struggles during pregnancy such as constipation, indigestion as well as iron deficiency anaemia.”
Iron deficiency anaemia is a common problem among women of reproductive age. It is primarily caused by monthly iron losses through menstruation and the high iron demands during pregnancy. If left unmanaged, it can cause severe fatigue, compromised immunity, and poor pregnancy outcomes. According to Professor Dr Hamid Jan bin Jan Mohamed[4], expert in Maternal & Child Nutrition, Universiti Sains Malaysia, anaemia during pregnancy ranges from 19.3% to 57.4%. This means that 1 in every 5 pregnant women is anaemic. To overcome this problem, pregnant moms are usually given iron tablets but these traditional iron supplements cause gastrointestinal distress such as constipation and bloating — which is the last thing pregnant women want.
Mori-Mama: The Solution for Pregnant Moms
Fortunately, there is Mori-Mama, Morinaga’s advanced maternal nutrition that provides support for both mother and child from the inside out. Formulated with more than 41 nutrients including lactoferrin and Synbiotic (B.longum BB536) + FOS, Mori-Mama may be the solution pregnant women are looking for.
Lactoferrin
Lactoferrin is a naturally-occurring protein primarily found in human milk, especially colostrum — the first form of milk produced after childbirth.
One of lactoferrin’s primary roles is to bind to iron in the gastrointestinal tract and then transport it to the cells of the body. This binding facilitates controlled iron absorption[5] into intestinal cells while also preventing excess free iron from generating harmful oxidative stress in the gut.
For overcoming anaemia, Dr Chew says, “Lactoferrin helps your body to absorb iron better while being very gentle on the gut, helping to support healthy iron levels with less gastrointestinal discomfort.”
At the same time, Mori-Mama contains high levels of iron to boost your iron status.
Mori-Mama delivers 22mg of lactoferrin and 10mg of iron per serving — the highest among all the other brands in Malaysia.
Synbiotic (B.longum BB536 + FOS)
B.longum BB536
Mori-Mama also contains Synbiotic (B.longum BB536 + FOS). Bifidobacterium longum BB536[6] (B. longum BB536) is a Human-Residential Bifidobacteria (HRB) that is natively adapted to the human intestinal environment. HRB strains are very friendly bacteria that naturally live in the human gut from birth. Because they belong there, they are much better at passing on health benefits from the mother to the child.
“The B.longum BB536 strain of probiotics was first identified more than 50 years ago and it is backed by clinical evidence to be safe and effective for use in children and pregnant mothers,” says Dr Chew. “When paired with a healthy diet, it improves the mother’s intestinal environment and suppresses harmful bacteria in the gut.”
Not only does B.longum BB536 optimise the maternal microbiome, it also confers long term health benefits to the child after they are born.
“A key clinical study that followed children for 18 months found that moms who were supplemented with Bifidobacterium longum BB536 had children with reduced risk of developing eczema — a common type of skin allergy. This highlights the importance of the maternal microbiome in providing a protective head start for the child’s health,” he says.
Fructo-Oligosaccharides (FOS)
In Mori-Mama, B. longum BB536 is paired with the prebiotic Fructo-Oligosaccharides (FOS) to form Synbiotic (B.longum BB536 + FOS). FOS is a natural fibre that is found abundantly in fruits and vegetables. “FOS is the food for the good gut bacteria,” Dr Chew explains. “Clinical trials and research have shown that it can effectively soften stool in pregnant mothers which also helps to relieve constipation.
“To keep the gut healthy, we need both the prebiotic and probiotic to work together.”
This is where Synbiotic (B.longum BB536 + FOS) comes in.
“While FOS is the food, the probiotics are the helpful guests we want living in our gut to improve our digestion and the immune system,” he says.
These 3 ingredients in Mori-Mama work synergistically.
“FOS feeds the good gut bacteria while Bifidobacterium longum BB536 works to build the child’s immunity from the very beginning. And then lactoferrin comes in to support the mother’s health by maintaining healthy iron levels all while keeping the mother’s gut comfortable and balanced. All in all, probiotics and prebiotics like B.longum BB536 and FOS can support good gut health for mothers who are pregnant,” says Dr Chew.
He concludes with the reminder that gut health is vital for the mother’s well-being and that diet is one of the crucial places to start. “If you’re currently getting pregnant, talk to your doctor about a healthy diet along with prebiotics and probiotics such as FOS and B.longum BB536 as well as lactoferrin. They can help support your digestive health and your little ones’ long-term health.”
Mori-Mama delivers 1.3 billion CFU of B. longum BB536 and 1.3g of FOS in every serving. It is also the only maternal milk brand in Malaysia to contain a HRB strain of probiotics.
Mori-Mama: The Solution to good Gut Health in Pregnancy
Mori-Mama is a trusted heritage brand with over 100 years of Morinaga R&D. It is a category leader in maternal milk nutrition that provides the one solution for moms from pregnancy planning to lactation. Only one serving per day is needed for the entire pregnancy journey. Not only is it formulated with revolutionary nutrients such as lactoferrin and Synbiotic (B. longum BB536 + FOS), the milk only comes to you after a dual inspection process as every batch is first inspected at their manufacturing facility followed by a second inspection in Japan. This ensures you get uncompromising quality and safety. Mori-Mama has a mild vanilla flavour, doesn’t contain added sucrose and is certified halal.
[1] National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). A balanced gut microbiome and its links to immune function, inflammation, and mood. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3065426/
[2] National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). The maternal gut microbiome and its role in foetal brain and immune development. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12816947/
[3] Morinaga Milk Malaysia. (n.d.). Parenting insights with Dr Chew Kee Seang. Retrieved from https://morinagamilk.com.my/list-parenting-video
[4] Jan Mohamed, H. J. (n.d.). Maternal & Child Nutrition insights shared via video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGFV1OhWWuM
[5] ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Lactoferrin. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/lactoferrin
[6] Morinaga Milk Industry. (n.d.). BB536 probiotics overview. Retrieved from https://morinagamilk-ingredients.com/probiotics/bb536/