Is it safe to take a probiotic while pregnant?

Ah, pregnancy. That time in your life when you start realizing that everything you thought was good for you before could potentially kill your unborn child. It’s like being trapped in an episode of Black Mirror where every decision feels like a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ game but instead of picking which way to go on the path, it involves deciding what food and drink is off limit or could harm the baby.

One popular product many women wonder about its safety during pregnancy is probiotics. You might have heard that probiotics can be packed with beneficial bacteria great for digestive health – something which pregnant women dearly need because let’s face it: constipation may as well be renamed ‘second-time pregnancy’. However, many are also aware not all bacteria types are equal and cautious about exposing themselves or their little bean to any risk.

So if you’re expecting and want to know whether taking probiotics during pregnancy is safe for both yourself and your baby, stick around; we’ll feed your curious gut through our definitive guide!

What Are Probiotics?

Let’s get back to basics here – probiotics refer to live microorganisms (read: microscopic living critters) beneficial for human health when consumed adequately in one form or another^[1] .

They come from various sources such as yogurt, kefir, and pickles although they can also be isolated in powdered supplements—which isn’t surprising since these small guys (or gals?) have caught marketers’ eyes too over the past few years 😉

Probiotics belong mostly in two broad categories:Lactobacillusand Bifidobacterium—names only experts would immediately recognize along with other 20 named species including Saccharomyces boulardii ^[2]

You can even joke today “Ask not what may happen as I’m expecting– just ask my bank account after buying all these Lactobacillus supplements”.

Why Would You Need Probiotics During Pregnancy?

Being pregnant isn’t an easy ride – there are plenty of bodily changes that happen for mom to ensure baby is getting fed, right from the start. One common side-effect moms experience because of hormonal changes is Imbalanced gut health leading to irregular bowel movements and constipation^[3]. Hence, It might come as no surprise that probiotics have been found helpful in managing such symptoms.

For instance, A study conducted on 70 children suffering from constipation revealed consuming a mixture of specific strains of Lactobacillus can help improve peristaltic activity (rectum contractions)^[4].

But not only digestion matters – women also face weakened immune systems during pregnancy therefore getting sick may be easier than regular circumstances. On another note research suggests appropriate live bacteria consumption could lead to lower risk levels related to urinary tract infection or even gestational diabetes ^[5]

However as with everything else happening inside our body: everyone’s experience varies, so it’s critical you talk about any notable change with your doctor.

Having said that, what’s vital when taking any additional supplement including probiotics is knowledge beforehand whether they’re indeed safe or if you’ll put yourself at risk by doing so.

What Potential Risks Could There Be?

As much as the benefits seem promising,Lackof long-term studies makes us realize taking probiotics while expecting still poses potential risks

1- Unverified untested Products
There’s always a risk you end up picking up an illegal product sold online. Many clinical trials haven’t endorsed their safety requirements; hence, lack sufficient control making them counterfeitable by dodgy manufacturers who don’t care about type/number/potency or even quality standards-of-the-shelf products just yet^[6].
While searching for proper ones seems hard & daunting now,but having a more quality-controlled marketplace could be seen anytime in the future.

2- Anomalies during Pregnancy
Certain small studies have suggested that taking probiotics at specific times of pregnancy might produce some negative side effects. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri, in particular, led to premature birth cases when women took them after 35 weeks or before 12 ^[7].

If we’re honest, the existence of a lot of other factors known for causing such anomalies means it’s tricky to directly attribute this entirely on the probiotic consumption although it’s better safe than sorry!

How To Ensure Safety When Using A Probiotic During Pregnancy?

A critical point is ensuring any maternal dietary supplement has FDA-approved labels (there are more vendors advertising one brand over another) ensures there’s no trace of adulterated components ^[8]. It would be excellent if your physician also knows what you’re consuming and whether they interact with existing prescription medication or underlying health conditions; something as innocuous as self-medication can end up being harmful.

On another note:We wouldn’t recommend purchasing discounted supplements without doing thorough research beforehand . That’s why checking customer reviews online can save you from falling into easily avoidable traps – companies like fake Amazon accounts advertise sellers engrossed with counterfeit items instead of actual products^[9]. In short: don’t let losing $$ get inside your head – prioritize an informed decision-making process

Lastly,make peace with yourself.It doesn’t hurt reaching out medical expertise every once towards inquiries about different topics while expecting a child;.Doctors often suggest integrating healthy foods rich in nutrients meeting your daily requirements instead of just wholly depending on supplements.

Conclusion

So,is it safe to take a probiotic during pregnancy? The answer remains debatable because not many long-term scientific trials provide conclusive evidence yet.Therefore,the use against potential risks should always weigh whether starting with one supplement is worth it for your body by consulting a trusted qualified practitioner.

But hey,cheer up.It’s the baby that gets to break out of his/her cocoon for a new adventure in life – not you! May taking probiotics have fewer unknowns sooner than we think!

References

1. IDEA Health & Fitness Association [‘The Benefijits of Probiotics’,] (http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/the-benefits-of-probiotics)
2. Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School ‘Health benefits of taking probiotics’
3. American Pregnancy Association ‘Constipation During Pregnancy’
4. Pediatrics Taiwan Journal[ ‘Effect of lactobacillus-Containing Treatments on Gut Motility and Short- Chain Fatty Acids Acticity in Constipated Children’. 2014;55(5):340–345.(http://tpc.tprp.ir/_portal/File/Pediatr_Taiwan_55_340.pdf)
5. ZijunWu et al., ‘Prenatal and Early Life Sugary Beverage Consumption Frequency
   and Associations with Mid-childhood Cognition: The Project Viva Prospective Cohort Study’, American Journal of Preventative Medicine , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.vpgy015
   6.Nccih.nih.gov.Strategic Plan FY 2021-2025
6. The HEalthline ‘Probiotics and pregnancy safety’.2016(https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/probiotics#risks)
7. Fernandez et al., ‘Dietary Supplements for Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women: A Multicenter Observational Study’, Pharmacy , https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy9010027
   9.CBC.CA Fake Amazon Reviews: How Sellers Trick You into Buying Counterfeit Items