Virgin Gut and Medicines and Supplements

[KnitLady]

My 4.5 month old is on meds for his reflux. He needs it and I don't plan to stop giving it to him, but I've really been wondering if it destroys his virgin, exclusively breastfed, gut. What about other medications (Motrin, etc.) or supplements (gripe water, vitamins, etc.).?

[evinmom]

Originally Posted by KnitLady

My 4.5 month old is on meds for his reflux. He needs it and I don't plan to stop giving it to him, but I've really been wondering if it destroys his virgin, exclusively breastfed, gut. What about other medications (Motrin, etc.) or supplements (gripe water, vitamins, etc.).?

I think anything that goes into the digestive tract will have an impact on the environment there to some degree. It's a matter of weighing the benefits and risks. I've read several articles about how gripe water (which many people consider safe and natural) can mess with a baby's intestinal flora. If you need to talk about reflux, give me a call. Gavin had severe projectile reflux until 9 months and Evie had silent reflux for the first 5 months.

[Toolip]

I didn't know about virgin gut until somewhat recently. My friend just had a baby who is EBF but they have dogs and cats and I was joking with them that they're going to have to say that her first food was dog hair because SO much of it ends up in her mouth!
Anyway, it got me wondering about virgin gut and what kind/amount of food will unbalance it. Pre-solid food babies still put a lot of stuff in their mouths, ykwim?

[mambera]

Originally Posted by evinmom

I've read several articles about how gripe water (which many people consider safe and natural) can mess with a baby's intestinal flora.

Is there any evidence that such alterations in the gut flora are harmful to the baby?

[NSmomtobe]

Can probiotics restore the balance again?

[herenow2]

When my dd was 3 months old she had to be on antibiotics for a week. My very pro-breastfeeding and digestive system aware doctor said not to worry that breastmilk recolonizes the gut very quickly. It may not be exactly the same as it was, but it sounds like if you keep breastfeeding the gut will return to health pretty quickly.

[lalemma]

I am a little skeptical of the virgin gut thing for the sole reason that most babies, starting at an age way before they're eating solids, cram everything they can get their hands on into their mouths. And even before that, they're getting exposed to the communities of little critters that live on their mama's skin when they nurse.

I do think it's a good idea to delay solids until the baby's gut matures, but I find it hard to believe that a baby who hasn't eaten solids has zero exposure to non-breastmilk particles. You know?