We often think of pregnancy nutrition as fueling your body and your growing baby — but did you know your gut microbiome plays one of the most powerful roles in shaping your baby’s lifelong health?

Your microbiome is the community of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that live in your digestive tract. During pregnancy, these microbes do much more than support your digestion — they influence your baby’s developing immune system, metabolism, and even brain development.

During pregnancy, your placenta is the lifeline that supports your growing baby. It delivers oxygen and nutrients, removes waste, and produces hormones that maintain a healthy pregnancy. To function properly, the placenta needs to maintain a delicate balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS)—molecules produced naturally during metabolism—and the body’s antioxidant defenses.