5 terms that should be part of every mother’s vocabulary but aren’t

Motherhood brings big changes to your life, including completely overhauling your vocabulary. We have no doubt that you now use words such as vernix, niplash and Ferberization -- terms that you did not even know existed till your little one came along – like a pro!

However, there are some terms that, despite being deeply connected to your child’s total well-being and long term health, might still be missing from your ever expanding mummy-vocabulary.

Here are 5 terms that every mum should know, and we tell you why. Click on start gallery to see if you already know what they are.

Keep reading to find out how you can win in the Dumex Spot the Wonders Contest – Over $10, 000 worth of prizes, including staycation prizes and a $7,000 jackpot travel voucher, await the lucky winners!

This article is brought to you by Danone Dumex®. Danone Dumex® is part of Nutricia, #1 Baby Milk company in Europe^

1. Gut

What is it:

Gut is the generic term for your child’s gastrointestinal tract and starts from the mouth, extends to the stomach, small and large intestines and ends at the anus. The gut is where majority of the digestion takes place. Not known to many, it is also the body’s largest immune organ and hosts over 70% of the body’s immune cells4. In addition, the gut is home to over 100 million nerve cells1, making it a "second brain" for the body.

Why is it important:

Your baby’s gut does so much more than just digestion; it’s a centre that manages nutrient absorption, helps build natural defences, and influences mood, thus impacting your baby’s overall health and well-being.

Does your baby have a healthy gut? Click here to find out more.

This article is brought to you by Danone Dumex®. Danone Dumex® is part of Nutricia, #1 Baby Milk company in Europe^

2. Gut Microbiota

What is it:
The human body is colonised by trillions of microbes and these are collectively known as the human microbiota. The microbe colonies that live in the gut are known as the gut microbiota.
Why is it important:
There is increasing research on the link between the gut microbiota and our overall health and well-being. This gut microbiota is responsible for supporting the many functions of your baby's gut, such as facilitating digestion and absorption of nutrients for brain and physical growth, and helping his natural defences to function properly .
This article is brought to you by Danone Dumex®. Danone Dumex® is part of Nutricia, #1 Baby Milk company in Europe^

3. Serotonin

What is it:
Serotonin is the body’s "feel-good" hormone that performs many functions including the modulation of mood, appetite, and sleep. 90% of the body’s serotonin is secreted in the gut8.
If the baby’s sleep and appetite are well modulated, so will his mood and thus positively impacting his learning and other behaviour.
Why is it important:
Altered levels of serotonin may be linked to some medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. If there is not enough serotonin in the gut, it will affect your baby’s digestion, sleep behavior and appetite, making him irritable and cranky and thus impacting him negatively.
This article is brought to you by Danone Dumex®. Danone Dumex® is part of Nutricia, #1 Baby Milk company in Europe^

4. Prebiotics

What is it:
Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres that promote the growth and activity of good bacteria in your child’s gut. They act as the main food source for good bacteria and can be found naturally in food like bananas, berries, tomatoes and whole grains.
Why is it important:
Prebiotics support your child’s healthy gut bacteria profile with plenty of good bacteria that facilitate digestion and absorption of nutrients for his brain and physical growth, build his natural defences and influence his mood.
However, not all prebiotics are the same, so choose with care. Scientific research has shown that a 9:1 GOS/IcFOS+ prebiotics blend promotes a healthy gut bacteria profile and supports the body’s natural defences10.
+Galacto-oligosaccharide, long-chain fruto-oligosaccharide (GOS/IcFOS)
Do you know if your child has a healthy gut? Click here to find out more about the indicators.

This article is brought to you by Danone Dumex®. Danone Dumex® is part of Nutricia, #1 Baby Milk company in Europe^

5. Gut-Brain Axis

What is it:
There are over 100 million nerve cells located in your child’s gut, making it a "second headquarters" of his body and enabling a direct two-way communication between his gut and brain. This two-way communication between the gut and the brain is termed as the Gut-Brain Axis.
Why is it important:
The Gut-Brain axis allows your child’s gut to communicate messages of comfort, satiety and hunger to his brain, while the brain sends the gut messages about emotions, which impacts its functioning. This axis impacts the total well-being of your child.
Your child's gut health may affect his gut-brain communication. Find out if your child has a healthy gut here.
Spot the Wonders Contest
More fascinating facts about gut health, and a chance to win in the Dumex Spot the Wonders Contest are just a click away. Visit dumex.com.sg/gut today! Over $10, 000 worth of prizes, including staycation prizes and a $7, 000 jackpot travel voucher, await the lucky winners!
This article is brought to you by Danone Dumex®.
Danone Dumex® is part of Nutricia, #1 Baby Milk company in Europe^
We have been focusing our scientific and clinical expertise on gut health for the last 40 years. Danone Dumex® is committed to supporting little guts by continuous improvement, to help maintain the overall health and well-being of babies.
^ Danone Nutricia ELN is the first Ranked Milk Formula manufacturer both in Sales Value and Sales Volume for these 9 countries (UK, DE, NL, IRL, PL, BEL, CZE/SLO and ROM) during the MAT period Dec 2015.
Click here for references to all scientific data.

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