Even from the early days of pregnancy, a mother always prefers to do everything in her control to help her baby grow healthy. From trying out strange wives’ tales such as eating lots of peanuts, so your little one will not be allergic to them, to necessary activities such as exercise and adequate sleep, they willingly try everything. After all, staying fit and keeping your upcoming bundle of joy in good health throughout their first years of life must be your number one priority.
In this process of thinking everything right for their child, expecting moms often fight with all the temptations of fast-food and savory cuisine. Besides eating healthy, probiotics also help mothers to have a robust immune system during pregnancy. If you are a new mom and have no clue about probiotics and how they work, probably you’ve pressed the right link.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live productions of bacteria that help your immune system defend against toxic bacteria. Our bodies carry both the good and bad bacteria at the same time. Probiotics are those helpful bacteria that protect our body against harmful ones. Doctors generally prescribe probiotics for those on antibiotics to replace the “good” bacteria the antibiotics eventually drain. They also suggest eating Yogurt during pregnancy as it carries a standard amount of probiotics. Some people swear by probiotics as a cure for bowel issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or chronic constipation or diarrhea.
Is Probiotics Good for Pregnancy?
According to American Pregnancy, probiotic bacteria are entirely safe for pregnant or lactating mothers. Unsurprisingly, many women turn to various probiotics to treat pregnancy symptoms such as constipation, gas, bloating, heartburn, instead of other medications or merely suffering from the symptoms.
Probiotic bacterium reduces the intestine’s inflammation to lower the blood pressure. In this way, professionals often treat pregnant women with preeclampsia due to high blood pressure.
The consumption of these helpful bacteria during the first trimester reduces postpartum weight faster and the risk for postpartum depression. As they reduce the amount of “bad” bacteria in your body, leading to infections, illness, and more. Therefore, taking them lowers your risk of these diseases during and immediately after pregnancy. These probiotics may even be transferred to your baby, giving them the same leg-up on illness and infection!
Vaginal Health Support Probiotics
While expecting, vaginal health should be your topmost priority. After all, your reproductive system is busy doing the job it was built for – growing a baby! Excellent options for any woman who wants to improve her vaginal health, pregnant or not, are turmeric and grapefruit seed. These ingredients may help balance yeast and bacteria down there and support your overall immune health! They will keep your V healthy and happy, so you can focus on what is important to you right now: your growing baby.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of probiotic options you might consider taking if you’re expecting, what they do, and how they can help! Please note that it is essential to consult your doctor before starting any medication or supplement to your diet. We urge you not to take this article as medical advice.
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: This probiotic may reduce the chance of developing eczema in your child later on in life, making it an excellent choice for any parent who wants to prevent it. Though not life-threatening, eczema is a pesky condition for both parents and their child because it creates red, itchy splotches on the skin that can appear rash-like, tending to come in flares as well as possibly being accompanied by fever.
- L. acidophilus: This probiotic may help relieve depression in expectant mothers. If you have been experiencing symptoms of depression during your pregnancy, such as feeling sad for more than two weeks, trouble sleeping, or loss of interest in your usual activities, you may want to give this probiotic a try.
- Lactobacillus casei: This probiotic lowers the amount of immunoglobulin e in babies when taken prenatally. Immunoglobulin e is antibodies that create allergic reactions and provoke the immune system to unnecessarily flare after consuming peanuts or shellfish. If you want to help prevent allergic reactions in your child, which can be life-threatening in the case of anaphylaxis, you may try this probiotic.
- Biofidobacterium: This bacteria functionalizes your digestive system, also starves out the harmful bacteria. It also treats breast pain, ulcerative colitis, constipation, infant eczema, and many more health issues. Yogurt with added bacteria production, buttermilk, cured meats, and several fermented milk drinks contain a standard amount of Biofidobacterium.
- • Saccharomyces boulardii: It prevents and treats several forms of diarrhea and other digestive problems.
Bottom Line: Are Probiotics Safe For You and Your Baby’s Health?
Researches on the effects of taking probiotics during pregnancy are rare. However, after intaking probiotics, the observations of potential benefits made it a popular choice among expecting mothers to treat current health problems and prevent them in their unborn children. Though probiotics are naturally occurring bacteria, generally recognized as safe, everyone should consult their doctor before taking any while pregnant. Also, beware of your allergies when shopping for probiotics, as some contain food elements to which you may be allergic!
Probiotics may be an excellent option for you during and after your pregnancy journey and improve your overall health. Remember that, in addition to probiotics, you can keep yourself healthy during pregnancy with exercise (as allowed by a doctor,) good sleep, managing stress, and avoiding things such as alcohol and drugs.
Do not forget to share if you have any tips, suggestions, or experiences while taking probiotics during pregnancy, as well as if you plan to try out any of the probiotics we’ve laid out for you here!
