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Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
Is it safe to take probiotics whilst pregnant?
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To help counteract bad bacteria, to balance out my bowel. I have just bloating, no pain, stools fine. (Stopped dairy and celiac) -
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Felicia McQueen
Bowen Therapist, Exercise Physiologist
I am an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Bowen Therapist and Nutritionist working in private practice in Toowoomba, Qld.I have particular interest in prenatal, post-pregnancy & infant … View Profile
Absolutely! Providing you don't have an underlying immune compromise, chronic disease or debilitation (and you're not administering them to a pre-term infant), studies have shown that not only are probiotics safe, but specific strains of probiotics are beneficial during pregnancy, and for colicky infants also.
Several studies have found them to be beneficial in preventing & treating bacterial vaginosis in the woman during pregnancy, however the best study I came across involved administration by vaginal prophylaxis opposed to oral administration. See link to the 2010 study here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937810006101.
A 2012 literature review of seven randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that were published between 2001 and 2009, found that administration of lactobacilli during pregnancy prevented atopic eczema in children aged from 2 to 7 years. Interestingly however, the authors reported that a mixture of various bacterial strains didn't affect the development of atopic eczema, regardless of whether they contained lactobacilli.
Research conducted in 2007, 2010, 2012 (links below) also supports the administration of lactobacillus reuteri to reduce the symptoms of colic in infants. I know that's unrelated to your question, but as an expecting mother, I thought you'd like to know!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22981952
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/e124.full
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/126/3/e526.long
Also, because you mention you're dairy & gluten free, be sure to choose a probiotic that is dairy-free. Metagenics & Bioceuticals are good, naturopath practitioner recommended brands.
As with anything, if you have concerns, please speak to your Doctor / Primary Healthcare Provider. Probiotic sepsis to specific strains has occurred in immuno-compromised individuals & pre-term infants, so if you fall in this category, DO speak to your Doctor first! http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/83/6/1256.full
Otherwise, am happy to say, there are no reports of sepsis in otherwise healthy individuals, only lots of literature supporting the benefits of probiotics!
All the best with your pregnancy & imminent arrival of your little one!Report this post
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HealthShare Member
Probiotics are effective for treating bacterial vaginosis and allergic reactions.You should consult your Dr before taking anything though it is beneficial and effective.
1. From an allergy standpoint there has been research recently that I will try to research for you from very reputable sources that has shown that moms who actively take probiotics during pregnancy have babies/children who have fewer allergies.
2. My CPM told me to start taking them before I got pregnant. I have had in the past constant UTIs and most likely yeast infections that I didn't realize. This pregnancy I am almost 30 weeks now and I've been able to keep them at bay which is completely amazing.
3. I take Juice Plus which is a wholefoods based vitamin for lack of a better word (they're not processed at all just pure fruits and veggies-17 varieties of them) and they include acidophilus in every one. There has been research on this as well for pregnant moms having statistically significantly healthier babies. These are what I take for my prenatals.Report this post
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