Eczema, Allergies, and Asthma Start in the Gut: Unlocking the Baby and – Biohacking Brittany

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May 20, 2025

Eczema, Allergies, and Asthma Start in the Gut: Unlocking the Baby and Mother Microbiome with Tiny Health

Cheryl Sew Hoy, founder and CEO of Tiny Health (code: BIOHACKINGBRITTANY), unpacks the groundbreaking science behind the early-life microbiome and how parents can optimize gut health from preconception through postpartum and beyond.

We discuss why vaginal seeding, breastfeeding, and prebiotic foods matter more than you think, and how chronic conditions like eczema, allergies, and even asthma often start with gut imbalances in infancy.

We also open up about our own C-sections, breastfeeding journeys, and how our families are experimenting with gut healing—including drinking our own breast milk!

We talk about:

03:00 - How birth and breastfeeding influence a baby's microbiome

08:10 - Why gut testing matters before you get pregnant

11:25 - Why B. infantis is the most critical probiotic strain for babies

19:10 - Probiotics for babies (Evivo code: BIOHACKINGBRITTANY)

21:30 - What gut testing can reveal in a baby’s first year

22:50 - Allergies, eczema, asthma, and their gut health connection

25:55 - Signs your gut may be out of balance

33:15 - How Cheryl balances running a company and motherhood

36:45 - Why Cheryl chose to have a third baby at age 41 despite a busy career

41:15 - Cheryl’s current biohacking focus: EMFs and grounding

47:02 - Tiny Health vs. Viome: The difference in gut testing

Questions answered in this episode:

What inspired Cheryl Sew Hoy to start Tiny Health?
How does a C-section birth affect a baby’s microbiome?
What is vaginal seeding and how does it help?
Why is B. infantis important for babies—and do most babies have it?
Can adults benefit from taking baby probiotics or drinking breast milk?
What symptoms might indicate gut imbalance in babies and children?
Can NSAIDs like Tylenol impact a baby’s gut or increase asthma risk?
Why does Cheryl recommend gut testing before trying to conceive?
What are the downsides of giving infants unnecessary probiotics?
How does Tiny Health’s testing method compare to Viome’s?
How can moms realistically prioritize both their health and their family’s?
How do lifestyle choices like sauna and detoxing affect postpartum recovery?
Is daycare before age 3 harmful for mental health and bonding?
What does the latest science say about early gut health and immune conditions?

Sponsors:

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Resources:

Optimize your preconception health by joining my Baby Steps Course today!
Optimize your preconception health and fertility through my free hormone balancing, fertility boosting chocolate recipe! Download it now!
My Amazon storefront
Tiny Health website (code: BIOHACKINGBRITTANY) and Instagram