Is It Safe To Take Probiotics While Pregnant

Benefits Of Taking Probiotics Or Prebiotics During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the consumption of probiotics and prebiotics can help the pregnant woman in many ways. Some of them are:

• Helps in improving digestion.
• Breaks down food to be entirely utilised by the body.
• Essential for healing infertility.
• Helps in reducing inflammation of the colons lining, and treats inflammatory bowel disease.
• Strengthens the immune system of the mother and the baby.
• Maintains a healthy urinary system.
• Balances the cholesterol level.

• Cheddar
• Buttermilk

These are fairly common foods that are consumed on a regular basis. So if youre pregnant, theres no need to reduce the frequency of eating these.

A healthy pregnancy can be ensured by maintaining a healthy diet. Take time to chart food recipes that integrate probiotics and prebiotics in your daily diet. During pregnancy, cravings can get the better of you but do not miss out on prebiotic-rich food.

You can choose to get your probiotics from supplement capsules, but it is always good to seek advice from your doctor before taking any pills. In case of any allergy, call the doctor immediately. Relying on a healthy lifestyle is the best way to get through pregnancy and will facilitate the healthy development of the baby.

Pink Stork Pro Prenatal Probiotic

This is a specially formulated prenatal probiotic supplement that is beneficial for women with morning sickness.

This supplement includes 6 potent probiotic strains and each serving of this supplement provides 8 billion CFUs of active culture to the digestive tract.

The special probiotic blend prevents the colonization of harmful H.pylori bacteria that is known to cause nausea and morning sickness.

This supplement also helps to relieve digestive issues such as constipation, diarrhea gas, bloating and cramping and treat urinary tract infections.

Pros

• Specially designed to relieve morning sickness in pregnant women
• Includes 6 potent probiotic strains
• Each serving provides 8 billion CFUs of active culture
• Manufactured in FDA approved facility

Cons

Reduce The Risk Of Infant Atopic Eczema And Food Allergies

Eczema, recognized by red, itchy patches of skin, is a precursor to a variety of other conditions such as food allergies and asthma, so reducing or preventing it is very important.

We know that differences in a babys microbiome link to increased allergy risks, and research is supporting the use of probiotics to prevent eczema.

A large;Meta-analysis;reported that pregnant women given probiotics during as well as the initial postpartum period reduced eczema by 22%.

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Protect Against Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

High blood sugar is never good, and its especially harmful during pregnancy. When glucose intolerance appears for the first time in pregnancy, it is called gestational diabetes mellitus.

During pregnancy, an imbalance in gut flora resembles metabolic dysfunction with increased inflammation and decreased insulin sensitivity.

A 2019;Meta-analysis;using ten studies with a combined total of 1,139 participants, found that probiotics supplementation was effective at reducing GDM; it reduced the fasting blood glucose serum insulin levels and insulin resistance. It also shows that multi-strain probiotics are more effective than single-strain probiotics.

You Can Take Probiotics When Pregnant Science

• Probiotics are safe to take throughout pregnancy, but there’s not enough evidence to suggest they will benefit most pregnancies.
• Probiotic supplements should be third-party tested by an FDA-certified organization like ConsumerLab.com, Labdoor, NSF International, or US Pharmacopeia.
• The strongest evidence for probiotic benefits during pregnancy is in women who are at high risk of having a baby with allergies. In this case, probiotics may reduce the child’s risk.
• This article was medically reviewed by G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, OB-GYN Lead at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.;

When you’re pregnant, you’re told to avoid certain foods that could contain harmful microorganisms. Like runny eggs or uncooked produce that may contain Salmonella, which could spread to the placenta and harm the fetus.;

Probiotics also contain microorganisms like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium but these are safe to take while pregnant. As long as they’re from a reliable source, probiotics stay in the gut and won’t spread to the fetus.

According to some studies, probiotics may even lead to a healthier pregnancy under certain circumstances. Here’s what you need to know about probiotics and pregnancy.

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Do Probiotics Pass Through Breast Milk

While few studies focus on this, we do know that probiotics pass through into your breast milk. It can alter your milk, helping to encourage the development of your babys immune system.;One study showed;that 40% of probiotics pass through into your breast milk, but more extensive studies rarely prove or disprove these stats.;

How Many People Use Probiotics During Pregnancy

If youre tempted to give probiotics a go, youre not alone.

Women between 18-49 are one of the largest groups of probiotic supplement users, mainly to combat stomach discomfort.

Around 3% of pregnant women in the US and Canada also actively take probiotic supplements, but the country with the highest uptake is the Netherlands, with 13.7% of pregnant women taking probiotics.

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Are Probiotics Safe For All Ages

You may have heard about the trend of probiotics and how healthy it is compared to many other supplements. But are they truly safe to try? What age range are probiotic products such as Life-Space Probiotics safe to consume? You do not have to look further because you can learn more about the benefits of probiotics and how safe it is on this page.

Why Take Probiotics When Expecting

While probiotics are often touted as miracle supplements for people with digestive disorders or chronic GI distress, Dr. Chang-Jackson says their most common use in pregnancy is actually for maintaining the vaginal flora, not for curing stomach ills.

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, as well as constipation, are due to hormonal changes,” she explains. “So probiotics might not have as much of an effect .

However, pregnant women are more susceptible to vaginal and yeast infections than non-pregnant women. Taking probiotics can help preserve the balance of the vaginal microbiome, may prevent the occurrence of infections, and can reduce the need for prescription medication to treat vaginal infections.;

Patients dont usually know much about them, but we do tell ones with recurring vaginal infections that they can add probiotics to their routine, Dr. Chang-Jackson adds.

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Benefits Of Probiotics During Pregnancy

Oh let me count the ways

There are several big benefits to taking probiotics during pregnancy for both mom and baby. What happens now can have a lifetime impact on your little one.

Pregnancy appears to be the most critical stage for interventions aiming to reduce the risk of non-communicable disease in future generations.

Is It Safe To Take Probiotics And Prebiotics During Pregnancy

So, can you take probiotics while you are pregnant? According to research done by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, probiotics do not cause any complications during birth or infection during pregnancy. There are many health benefits that come with consuming probiotics.

Dr William Sears, a famous paediatrician from the Childrens Hospital in Boston, writes in his blog, Its quite safe to take probiotics during pregnancy. Probiotics are very popular in most of the countries, especially in Europe, and their health benefits are gradually being more valued.

During pregnancy, the composition of bacteria plays a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy metabolism. There are several research papers connecting a healthy digestive system to improve maternal health. Moreover, recent studies show that the consumption of probiotics reduces the harmful bacteria in the body, thus lowering the potential of certain infections.

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Importance Of Gut Health

Have you ever heard the;quote by Hippocrates ;All disease begins in the gut.?

Hippocrates, a very important figure in the history of medicine, discovered something very important. He found;that what we eat, and how our body processes food, links strongly;to diseases and our health.

This still holds true today, especially for pregnant women.

But first, lets learn about probiotics.

Reducing The Risk Of Allergies And Eczema In Your Baby

You might have heard about some recent studies suggesting that taking probiotics during pregnancy can reduce the risk of your baby getting eczema.

There are still studies being carried out to support this, but most seem to show that probiotics can prevent eczema in babies although they arent large studies, so its best to speak to your doctor if youre concerned about eczema.

Interestingly, probiotics may also reduce the chances of your child having allergies, too.

Having a baby with an allergy can be tough, because often, its a reaction you cant see, and poor baby cant tell you about it cue: lots of crying.

Allergies in babies can show up in lots of different ways: rashes, diarrhea, coughs, colic, and lots more.

While the World Allergy Organization doesnt make specific recommendations about taking probiotics during pregnancy to avoid allergies in children, the results from recent studies are pretty positive.

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Things To Look In A Probiotic Supplement During Pregnancy

• Pregnant women should always consult their doctor or obstetrician and determine the safety of a probiotic supplement before they start taking it. Women suffering from immune deficiency conditions or having any known allergies should avoid probiotic supplements.
• The probiotic strain Saccharomyces has not been studies for its safety during pregnancy, so it is best to avoid a probiotic supplement that includes this strain.
• It is best to choose a probiotic supplement from a reputed brand and purchase it from reliable sources to ensure its quality, purity and originality.
• It is best to opt for a supplement that is hypoallergenic formula, GMO free and doesnt contain any synthetic fillers and additives. Vegetarians can opt for non-gelatin probiotics.
• Opting for a time-release probiotic formula ensures that the microorganisms survive the stomach acids and make it alive to the intestine.
• Majority of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness so, it is best to choose an easy-to-swallow supplement that doesnt have any strong smell or taste.
• A shelf-stable probiotic cuts out the hassles of storing the supplement in the refrigerator after every use. Shelf-stable formulas also work better and have higher level of efficiency.

Boosting Your Immune System

Did you know that 80% of your immune system lives in your gut?

Did you also know that your immune system changes when youre pregnant?

Some parts get a boost, while others get left to the wayside its one of the reasons why your immune system doesnt mistake your implantation embryo as a threat.

If you have a healthy immune system that can help your baby to develop a healthy immune system, too.

Which leads us to

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Can Children Take Them

As babies are safe to consume probiotics, children can also consume probiotics without getting negative effects. In addition, these live microorganisms can give better protection for children as they strengthen the number of beneficial bacteria living in the gut.

However, you have to actually be extra careful with children. Some children have weak immune systems, and it will not matter whether they are newborns or teenagers. In cases like these, you may want to consult your childs doctor first whether it will be safe for them to consume probiotics when their immune system is compromised.

The Best Probiotic Sources For Pregnant Women

You can consume probiotics through either food or dietary supplements. Foods that contain adequate amounts of probiotics include kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut. But the probiotics you consume by eating; do not often measure up to the richness of probiotic bacteria in dietary supplements.

Probiotic bacteria may provide many health-supporting benefits to the human body, including gut, digestive and immune functions.;

There are multiple different strains of probiotic bacteria that serve unique purposes, and may be beneficial for pregnant women. Lactobacilli Bacteria primarily live in the small intestines and the most well-known is Acidophilus, which has been studied in areas like immune support. Bifidobacteria live primarily in the large intestines and have been studied in the area of support for challenges such as occasional irregularity.

With a doctors consent, mothers-to-be may be able to safely add probiotics to their daily regimen.

Prior to choosing a probiotic, look for ones that contain diverse probiotic blends like Probulins Womens Probiotic, Daily Care or Total Care Probiotic have easily printable labels on our website if youd like to print a copy to discuss with your physician.;

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Is It Safe To Take Probiotics While Pregnant

In general,;it is considered safe;to take probiotics during your pregnancy. Its important to note that there is limited research so that no one can say with absolute certainty, but most doctors agree that its a safe practice. It would help if you always spoke with your doctor before starting a new regime to get dependable thoughts and data.;

While the data is limited, there have been no associations connecting probiotic use and miscarriages or malformations of any kind. Doctors have yet to find any link to an increased risk of a c-section, birth weight, or preterm labor.;

Characteristics Of Studies That Reported On Adverse Effects

In total, 20 different adverse effects were reported in 11 studies . The most frequently reported adverse effects were gastrointestinal symptoms , nausea , diarrhea and constipation or bloating . The majority of the adverse effects were documented in mothers . Of the 20 adverse effect types reported, 16 were associated with probiotic intake, one was associated with prebiotic intake and nine were associated with multi-factorial interventions that included probiotic supplementation . The duration of the interventions varied from the first trimester of pregnancy to one year postpartum depending on the study, with the exception of one study which did not provide any information on the start or end of the intervention39. Of the 11 studies included in the GOfER analysis, only two studies reported the timing of the adverse effect, whereas the other nine studies did not report any timing information . Further, while seven studies were conducted in healthy pregnant individuals, the other four studies were conducted in pregnant individuals with underlying health conditions. These health conditions included lactational mastitis, constipation, overweight/obesity, and intermediate-degree infections/asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis13,40–42.

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Bubble plot of type and number of adverse effects stratified by intervention type. Size of bubble represents the number of times the given adverse effect was reported for the corresponding intervention across all studies.

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How Common Is Probiotic Use During Pregnancy

With constipation and diarrhea being two frequently experienced common discomforts during pregnancy, the use of probiotics during pregnancy is common. The Canadian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada found 45 to 93% of midwives had prescribed some form of natural health products to expecting mothers.

Pregnancy Increases The Need For Nutrients

During pregnancy, macronutrient intake needs grow significantly. Macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

For example, protein intake needs to increase from the recommended 0.36 grams per pound of body weight for non-pregnant women to 0.5 grams per pound of body weight for pregnant women.

Youll want to be including protein in every meal and snack to meet your needs.

The requirement for micronutrients, which include vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, increases even more than the need for macronutrients.

While some people are able to meet this growing demand through a well-planned, nutrient-dense eating plan, it can be a challenge for others.

You may need to take vitamin and mineral supplements for various reasons, including:

• Nutrientdeficiencies: Some people may need a supplement after a blood test reveals a deficiency in a vitamin or mineral. Correcting deficiencies is critical, as a shortage of nutrients like folate has been linked to birth defects.
• Hyperemesisgravidarum: This pregnancy complication is characterized by severe nausea and vomiting. It can lead to weight loss and nutrient deficiencies.
• Dietaryrestrictions: Women who follow specific diets, including vegans and those with food intolerances and allergies, may need to supplement with vitamins and minerals to prevent micronutrient deficiencies
• Smoking: Although its critical for mothers to avoid cigarettes during pregnancy, those who continue to smoke have an

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Article Screening And Data Collection

A 3-level screening process was performed by an independent reviewer. At level 1, 1185 articles were evaluated based on title and abstract, and articles were screened out if they were not in the English language, human studies, or one of the identified eligible study designs. The remaining 244 articles were carried forward for screening at level 2, where full texts were obtained. Articles were excluded if there was no full-text access and if probiotic/prebiotic/synbiotic supplementation was to the infant and not the mother, or to both mother and infant. Articles were further excluded if the population of interest was not pregnant or lactating people, if the information provided was insufficient for the requirements of this study, if supplementation was not probiotic, prebiotic or synbiotic-related, and if the article was not a primary research article, leaving 70 studies. Sample size and country of study information were extracted at this level. At level 3, data were extracted from the 70 studies to capture PICO information 25. We also noted the primary outcome of interest of the 70 studies under review, and categorized each study based on the primary outcome into 9 groups: pregnancy outcome , maternal metabolic health, maternal microbiome and gastrointestinal health, maternal breast health and breastmilk, maternal mental health, infant metabolic health, infant microbiome and gastrointestinal health, infant allergy and immune health, and infant growth and development .