Best Probiotics During Pregnancy – Benefits & Side Effects

Using certain probiotics during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is thought to be safe in healthy people.

Benefits may be conferred both to the mother and to the infant.

When newborn babies enter the world through vaginal birth, they receive their first exposure to good probiotic bacteria from their mothers as they exit the vaginal canal.

Babies that are born via C-section do not receive this probiotic transmission and are born with sterile digestive tracts.

For this reason, having a healthy microflora balance in the pregnant mother is important to pass on these good strains of bacteria to the newborn.

Probiotics can also provide a number of additional health benefits for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Probiotics Products ❯

View User Ratings ❯

Benefits of Probiotics during Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes many digestion complaints that probiotics can help. Many women experience constipation, cramps, diarrhea and heartburn during their pregnancy. Julie Smolyansky, the CEO of Lifeway Foods and a nutrition expert, recommends the use of probiotics during pregnancy to alleviate many of these concerns.

Probiotics may be able to help by improving the balance of good bacteria to bad bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. This can limit the ability of bad pathogenic bacteria from taking hold and colonizing in the gut, thereby improving the immune function of the body.

The use of probiotics may also improve the health of the developing baby.

A study published in the British Medical Journal on December 4, 2013 suggests that the use of probiotics during pregnancy or infancy may prevent eczema and IgE (Immunoglobulin E) associated eczema in infants.

Studies have also suggested that taking probiotics during pregnancy can reduce the chances of the infant having colic by up to 75%.

A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition in June 2010 looked at the effects of pregnant women using probiotics on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The study used the probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12.

The group given the probiotic supplement showed a reduced occurrence of GDM. Dietary consultation available during the study also helped reduce the incidents of larger birth sizes. Large birth size is considered a risk factor for obesity in later life.

Benefits for Vaginal Health

Having bacterial vagionosis, which is inflammation caused by pathogen in the vagina during pregnancy, increases the risk of premature labor. It is believed taking oral probiotic tablets with viable L rhamnosus GR-1 and L reuteri RC-14 lessens the risk of developing this condition.

This probiotic combination helps to keep the ratio of lactobacilli vaginal flora healthy in pregnant mothers. Tests done in animal studies showed these strains were safe during pregnancy and they helped the mothers and newborns stay healthy.

A study is currently being done using this probiotic combination on high risk premature labor pregnant women.

These strains of lactobacilli also inhibit the vaginal growth of B streptococci that can cause severe illness and death in newborns. Tests in the laboratory have shown lactobacilli can inhibit streptococci.

However, this needs to be tested in human trials to confirm these findings of these probiotics being safe to take during pregnancy.

Probiotics for Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss

A Finnish study showed taking probiotic supplements during the first trimester of pregnancy can help post-pregnancy weight loss.

The study found that supplements containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium help reduce belly fat in women with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or a waist measurement over 80 centimeters.

The supplement was taken during the first trimester of pregnancy until breastfeeding was stopped.

Previous studies have shown the actual microflora in the gut differs between lean and obese people. When obese people lose weight their microflora makeup also changes. The bacteria firnicutes are 20 % more abundant in obese people and the bacteria bacteroidetes was 90% lower in obese people.

When obese people lose weight, it increases their bacteroidetes ratio and reduces the firnicutes bacteria in their gut. For this reason, using a probiotic supplement to rebalance the microflora of the gut may support weight loss and weight management

It is important to eat a healthy diet during pregnancy, with probiotic food sources such as kefir (fermented milk products) and cheese. It is best to avoid foods high in sugar, grains and processed food as this will help to maintain a healthy flora balance in the gut.
Other external factors than can adversely influence the flora of the gut are agricultural chemicals, antibacterial soap, courses of antibiotics, chlorinated water and pollution.

Probiotic Products for Pregnancy

UltraBiotic Pregnancy Care is a probiotic supplement designed specifically for pregnant mothers. It has seven strains of probiotics with 35 billion CFU (Colony Forming Units) in total.

It contains 5 billion each of Lactobacillus fermentum (CUL 67), Lactobacillus gasseri (Lg-36) , Lactobacillus plantarum (CUL 66), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (CUL 63), Lactobacillus salivarius spp. salivarius (CUL 61) , Bifidobacterium bifidum (CUL 20) and Bifidobacterium lactis (CUL 34).

In combination with a healthy diet this probiotic combination helps maintain healthy glucose levels in women during and after pregnancy. The Lactobacillus rhamnosus (CUL 63) strain helps the microbiota development in infants in late pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Studies have shown taking probiotics during pregnancy helps decrease cases of mild atopic dermatitis and other allergy symptoms in the first few years of the infant’s life. The dosage is 1 to 2 capsules daily.

Contraindications

Some probiotics have been deemed safe to take during pregnancy. These strains can benefit the pregnancy and the infant’s early years.

Speak to your doctor to determine whether these products are appropriate for you and your medical history. Probiotics should not be taken if there are immune deficiency conditions or known allergies.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) there is a 1 in 1 million chance of contracting Bacteremia from Lactobacillus and a 1 in 5.6 million chance of contracting Fungemia from Saccharomyces boulardii.

The probiotic strain Saccharomyces hasn’t been studied for its safety during pregnancy and should be avoided.

Buying probiotics from reliable sources is vital so there are no contaminants that could risk the pregnancy. Women with surgical wounds, those using a catheter or who have short bowel syndrome should avoid this supplement.

Rate This Article

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)