FREE DOWNLOAD: Microbiome Plan For Parents Cheat Sheet
Evidence-Based. Parent-Friendly.
To Help Expectant Parents Prepare For Birth With Knowledge & Confidence
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Knowledge. Confidence. Options.
There is so much guidance about pregnancy and birth.
This CHEAT SHEET gives a quick, clear overview of what we know
about the development of the baby's microbiome, and some practical ways
to support the baby's microbiome in those important early moment.
Who Is This For?
✔ For parents who want to understand about their baby's microbiome
✔ For health professionals who support parents in their pregnancy, birth and infant feeding journey
✔ For those wanting practical evidence-based tools and information
✔ Educational resource only.
✔ Not a substitute for medical advice.
Learn The Science.
Apply It Immediately.
Improve long-term health.
How You Can Use This Resource?
✔ Download and use this Cheat Sheet for your own personal use.
✔ Share it with the parents and families you support in your work as a health care provider or professional.
✔ Print and distribute with your clients.
Please Note:
X This free resource may NOT be used as a free lead magnet.
X It may NOT be used in any course, programme, membership or digital product.
X It may NOT be shared with organisations, institutions or on public websites.
X It may NOT be resold, edited or modified.
Hi - I'm Toni Harman
If you wondered who made this Cheat Sheet, it's me!
I'm the filmmaker of the award-winning international documentary, MICROBIRTH. I've written a couple of books about the microbiome (YOUR BABY'S MICROBIOME and THE MICROBIOME EFFECT) and have created an online School called MICROBIOME COURSES with over 48,000 students.
I’ve spent the past 12 years interviewing over 200 scientists, midwives, doctors and other experts, and reading over 2,000 scientific on the science of the infant microbiome. My superpower is to help translate the science into clear, practical learning for health professionals and parents.
Why am I doing this? Because I had a C-section, struggled to breastfeed, and my newborn daughter was given multiple courses of antibiotics. I have spent the past 12 years on a journey of discovery to find out what can be done to protect and nourish the microbiome for the best long-term health - and now I want to share what I have learned WITH YOU!
Created by The Microbiome Plan
✔We translate the latest microbiome science into
✔ Practical tools, resources and courses for parents and professionals.
✔ Educational resources only.
✔ Not a substitute for medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Birth Cheat Sheet really free?
Yes! The Microbiome Plan Birth Cheat Sheet is available as a free digital download for parents and birth/maternity professionals.
Who is the Birth Cheat Sheet for?
It is designed for both expectant parents and health care professionals.
Parents can use it as a quick reference to understand how pregnancy, birth, feeding and early newborn experiences can influence a baby's developing microbiome.
Health care professionals can use it to support microbiome-informed conversations with the parents and families they work with.
What will I learn from the Birth Cheat Sheet?
The Cheat Sheet provides a concise overview of:
- Early-life microbiome development
- Microbiome-relevant considerations during pregnancy
- Labour and birth
- Vaginal birth and cesarean birth
- Intrapartum antibiotics
- Immediate postpartum care
- Feeding and the developing microbiome
- Skin-to-skin contact
- Supporting the microbiome when interventions are necessary
- Practical ways to avoid fear and guilt when discussing microbiome science
The aim is to provide a quick reference rather than a lengthy guide or protocol.
Is this medical advice?
No.
The Birth Cheat Sheet is an educational resource only and is not intended to replace personalised medical guidance, diagnosis or treatment.
Parents should always discuss individual clinical decisions with their qualified health care provider.
Does the Cheat Sheet tell me what kind of birth I should have?
No.
The purpose is to help parents understand the evidence and have informed conversations with their care team — not to tell parents what they should or shouldn't do.
The Cheat Sheet specifically emphasises that microbiome-informed care is not about perfection, fear or guilt.
What if I need a C-section or other medical intervention?
That's absolutely okay.
The Cheat Sheet does not suggest avoiding medically necessary interventions. It explains that interventions such as cesarean birth and antibiotics can be lifesaving, while also highlighting supportive strategies that may be appropriate afterwards, such as skin-to-skin contact and feeding support.
Can professionals share the Cheat Sheet with their clients?
Yes.
Health care providers and birth/maternity professionals may download the Cheat Sheet and share it with the parents and families they personally support as part of their professional work. The Cheat Sheet itself states that health care providers can use it to help support parents in their choices.
Can I use the Cheat Sheet as a freebie or lead magnet for my own business?
No.
The free Cheat Sheet may not be used as your own free lead magnet, opt-in incentive or email-list-building resource.
It is provided for personal educational use and for professionals to share directly with their own clients, rather than for marketing or list-building purposes.
Can I include it in my course, membership or programme?
No.
The Cheat Sheet may not be incorporated into or distributed as part of a course, membership, programme, workshop or other digital product.
If you would like microbiome resources to use as part of a course or professional programme, please contact Microbiome Plan to discuss the appropriate licensing options.
Can my organisation use or distribute the Cheat Sheet?
The free Cheat Sheet is not licensed for use or distribution by organisations, companies or institutions.
The professional sharing permission is intended for individual health care and maternity professionals to share with the parents and families they personally support.
Can I put the Cheat Sheet on my website?
No. Please don't upload the PDF to your website, public resource library, Facebook group, membership area or other publicly accessible platform.
If you want parents to access it, please direct them to the official Microbiome Plan download page.
MICROBIOME PLAN WEBSITE >>> https://microbiomeplan.com/
Can I modify the Cheat Sheet or add my own logo?
No. Please use the Cheat Sheet as provided by Microbiome Plan and don't modify, rebrand or remove the Microbiome Plan branding or copyright information.
Can I sell the Cheat Sheet?
No.
The Birth Cheat Sheet is a free resource and may not be resold, repackaged or included as a paid bonus or product.
How is this different from the Birth Starter Kit?
The Birth Cheat Sheet is a free, quick-reference resource designed to introduce the key concepts and help you start thinking about microbiome-informed birth.
The Microbiome Plan Birth Starter Kit goes much further, providing practical tools, checklists, guides and conversation prompts to help parents actively prepare for birth.
Want the practical tools too? → Explore the Birth Starter Kit
STARTER KIT >>> https://microbirth.teachable.com/p/birthstarterkit
Is the information evidence-informed?
Yes. The Cheat Sheet includes scientific references covering topics including delivery mode, antibiotics, skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, caregiver contact and infant microbiome development.
What is the main message of the Cheat Sheet?
Microbiome-informed care is not about perfection.
It is about understanding how early experiences may influence microbiome development and supporting parents to make informed, microbiome-aware choices — without creating fear or guilt.
Q. I have another question. How can I contact you?
Use the Contact Us form on the Microbirth website >>> https://microbirth.com/contact-us/
Information.
Preparation.
