We use a vaginal test collected with a lab-certified sampling swab.

The process is simple and unlike other tests on the market, Tiny Health doesn't require gloves, a spoon-like collection device, or that you handle stool at all, other than on a regular tissue paper.

The sample is then stored in the included container and zippered back and mailed back to us on the prepaid envelope included with your kit.

Microbiome health as a field is relatively new compared to medicine in general. However, human microbiome research has grown over the past 10 years and rose exponentially in the past five years as sequencing technology became more affordable.

There are now more researchers looking closely at how the microbiome is related to health and disease. When it comes to the baby microbiome and associations with health or disease, some very clear patterns have emerged. We pull data and reference high-quality research that is reproducible and gives consistent results. This way, you can be confident in the information that we share. 

While many expectant mothers are encouraged to take a prenatal vitamin and DHA during pregnancy, less is often said about gut and vaginal health.

But as it turns out, the microbes you live with - on your skin and in your body - have a substantial impact on your baby’s development during pregnancy and later during a baby’s first two years.

This window of time is commonly referred to as a baby’s first 1,000 days.

In addition to important vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, we now know that optimal immune and brain development takes place with the help of beneficial microbes that a baby inherits from their mother.

The timing of your Tiny Health test does matter. We recommend that you test in the first trimester and again in the third trimester of your pregnancy.

Yes, the vaginal microbiome is important for both fertility and to avoid the preterm rupture of membranes and birth.

Studies comparing women who delivered preterm against women who delivered at term show some changes in the microbiome that can be related to preterm birth or to the early rupture of fetal membranes.

Women who deliver preterm usually have lower levels of protective Lactobacillus and higher levels of potentially pathogenic bacteria frequently associated with bacterial vaginosis.  

High levels of Lactobacillus crispatus at 16 weeks of pregnancy have been found to protect against preterm birth. On the other hand, a significantly high percentage of women who deliver preterm have high levels of Lactobacillus iners.

Traditional medical practitioners don’t get training for microbiome health and as such, are not always familiar with the latest research and recommendations on this field of medicine.

However, our tests are developed by a team of leading pediatric scientists and physicians who are on the cutting edge of this impactful field.

Often, it’s up to your doctor to keep up on the latest research and most don’t have the time. In addition to this, it can take 10 - 15 years for academic research to be put into medical practice. So it’s possible that your doctor hasn’t heard about the gut microbiome.

‍But that doesn’t mean that it’s something to wait on.
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Especially during pregnancy and the first few years of life. Recent studies show just how important the microbiome is to your baby’s immune development.

You can use microbiome testing to make sure your baby has bacteria that protect health.

Not at all. Unlike DNA testing, conditions associated with the microbiome are reversible and risks can be reduced by taking preventative measures. Instead of just being worried about it, you can take the recommended actions and get some well-deserved peace of mind.