Table of contents:
- What are probiotics?
- Is it safe for pregnant women to take probiotics?
- Benefits of probiotics for pregnant women
- Benefits of probiotics for the health of pregnant women
- Benefits of probiotics for the health of the prospective baby
The gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that help regulate digestion, the immune system and other important aspects of general body health. Taking supplements and high-protein foods is a good step to support the health of pregnant women and their babies.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms, generally in the form of bacteria that are similar to bacteria found naturally in the human intestine. The three most commonly used bacteria as probiotics in food products include Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces.
Some foods contain natural probiotics, while others are fortified first to add probiotics during the manufacturing process. Foods that contain probiotics include:
- Yogurt and yogurt drinks. You are billions of bacteria in a serving of fresh yogurt
- Kefir, a probiotic and milk fermented drink
- Kimchi, a traditional Korean food made from fermented cabbage
- Kombucha, fermented black tea
- Miso and tempeh, which is made from fermented soybeans
- Cucumber pickle
- Several types of cheese, such as Gouda, mozzarella, cheddar, and cottage
Probiotics are also available in supplement form.
Is it safe for pregnant women to take probiotics?
You may be overcome by a million doubts when you hear the word "bacteria", especially when you are pregnant and have to be extra careful in choosing foods for the health of the fetus in the womb. Probiotics are dubbed the "good bacteria", because these bacteria can compensate for bad bacteria in the gut, and help to maintain a healthy digestive system.
Probiotics from natural food sources and supplements are usually considered safe to take during pregnancy. "Considered", because there are many varieties of probiotic bacteria and limited scientific research, therefore probiotics cannot be declared completely safe.
In the limited studies surrounding the use of probiotics during pregnancy, there was no found to be associated with using probiotics to miscarriage or any form of birth defects. Additionally, a report from Canadian researchers found no association between probiotic use and chances of a C-section, birth weight problems, or gestational age.
It is important to remember that the production and marketing of high-protein supplement products is not regulated by the government. This means it's impossible to know for sure whether a product contains enough prebiotics to have an effect on both you and your baby. There isn't much research on the benefits and safety of taking probiotic supplements in pregnancy, but it's likely that these supplements are okay to take. Meanwhile, foods that contain natural probiotics you can make part of a healthy diet, and are safe for consumption during pregnancy.
"There is no specific research out there regarding which is a better method of absorption of probiotics: through supplements or food," said Kristi Raja, R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, quoted from the Daily Burn. However, Raja warns that people who have diseases or health conditions that affect the immune system should be very careful about taking probiotic supplements. In addition, there is no stipulated daily recommended limit of probiotic intake. Talk to your obstetrician or midwife before deciding on anything.
Benefits of probiotics for pregnant women
During pregnancy, the composition and balance of the microbiota in the gut plays an important role not only in maintaining the health of the mother, but also in building the fetus's metabolism and immunity and providing the foundation for healthy digestion for her in the future.
Benefits of probiotics for the health of pregnant women
Based on a report published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, reported by Live Strong, intake of probiotics during pregnancy is known to dramatically reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, lower fasting glucose, and reduce the risk of preeclampsia (probiotics help reduce inflammation in the lining of the intestine, which believed to be able to lower blood pressure).
The risk of excess weight gain was also reported to be minimal among pregnant women whose diets were enriched with probiotics, when compared with the group of women who did not take probiotics at all. These results can occur because good bacteria help the body absorb nutrients more quickly, convert food into energy, and manage other factors, such as insulin resistance.
Several studies suggest that probiotics can be used to treat yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis (BV) which are common in pregnant women. BV is a vaginal infection that can increase the risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm labor. However, there is not enough research to prove that probiotics treat BV and prevent preterm labor, even when probiotics are paired with antibiotic consumption.
Benefits of probiotics for the health of the prospective baby
Scientific research also shows that pregnant women who consume enough probiotics help improve the health of their babies - at least for babies born through normal labor and who are breastfed. The baby's gut is essentially sterile until it is filled with the good bacteria present in the mother's vagina and breast milk, according to an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Probiotics during pregnancy boost the immune system and the diversity of the baby's intestinal ecosystem. One meta-analysis report published in May 2012 in the journal Epidemiology revealed that consumption of probiotics during pregnancy and after delivery reduces the risk of eczema and other allergic phenomena in the baby later in life. Babies who are breastfed by mothers who supplement their daily diet with probiotics during pregnancy also have lower rates of diarrhea, colic, and constipation between 2 and 6 months of age.
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