Probiotics & Pregnancy

by a Prenatal Registered Dietitian

Probiotics are a new and evolving topic in the healthworld that is opening up truly mind blowing research. Pregnancy is no exception from the benefit probiotics (both from foods & through supplementation) can have. To name a few, research has found that:

1. Probiotics can improve blood sugar and metabolic health of the mother which has also impacts the metabolic health of baby for life. With skyrocketing rates of metabolic disease not only affecting adults, but children this is huge!

2. Probiotics can help alleviate nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. If you've experienced this you're thankful for anything that can alleviate even a touch of this (at least this was me during both pregnancies, lol!)

3. Some truly fascinating research emerging has even pointed to a mother's gut microbiome during pregnancy could potentially determine the risk of their baby having Autism and prevention can be found by creating a healthier gut environment through diet and probiotic supplementation.

Personally...

I take a probiotic throughout my entire pregnancy and/or focus on eating probiotic rich foods like: yogurt, keifer, sauerkraut, kimchi (careful with this one if you experience a lot of heartburn -it's spicy), miso and kombucha so that I'm getting a source of probiotics every day.

There are even a wide array of benefits and reasons to continue to eat/take probiotics beyond pregnancy that will continue to benefit you and your baby if you choose to breastfeed. Even if you don't breastfeed - recovery post birth is hard. The gut plays a role in hormone regulation, regulating your mood, providing your body with nutrients... having a well supported gut will help support YOU as you recover, re-regulate and enter into this next chapter of life. 

Exception to the Rule:

I firmly believe probiotics are the future and it is incredible the impact they can have on the body and am a HUGE advocate for them. I do think though that there is always an exception and that would be if you have some gut dysbiosis going on and when you take probiotics you seem extra bloated, stomach is distended, really uncomfortable, excess gas, etc. Sometimes this may point that a yeast based probiotic may be better for you.

BUT without working with you personally to know for sure, my recommendation would just be to avoid a probiotic supplement at that point and just focus on probiotic rich foods. The best bang for your buck will be sauerkraut. It has billions of probiotic cultures in just one tablespoon.

Always run any new supplements by your healthcare provider as well as any questions or concerns! If you know you are sensitive to a probiotic supplement your provider may be able to refer you to a different version or something more specific to your unique health profile if you wish to still supplement.

Now, for which probiotic to take... that is the big question.

It seems like there are hundreds on the market these days! The first thing I would have you focus on (for any supplement) is something from reputable company that is high in quality and goes through third party testing. 

Throughout my pregnancy, I personally alternate between Klaire Labs TherBiotic Complete and YL's Life9. I take these when not pregnant also. Klaire Labs TherBiotic Complete is more full spectrum and would be especially good TCC, in late pregnancy and postpartum. I have several others linked in my FullScript favorites.

However, with this pregnancy:

Starting at week 32 I'm going to switch to a new probiotic (to myself, but that has been around for a while). I chose this one to take from 32 weeks - delivery because it focuses on specific strains of probiotics that have over 25 years of interesting research behind them. 

I'll be making this switch because around 36 weeks, you have your GBS (Group B Streptococcus) test. If you're hoping to avoid being GBS positive and needing antibiotics during delivery, research has shown that taking these two specific strains of probiotics can be beneficial:

• Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (GR-1)
• Limsilactobacillus reuteri (RC-14)

You can find both of these strains in Fem Dophilus by Jarrow Formulas.

TherBiotic Complete and Life9 do not have these specific strains but do have another version of the L. Rhamnosus and has other components that support women's vaginal health. I don't think it's necessary persay to take this specific one to prevent a GBS test. Even if you do take it you still have a chance of a positive test, but from what we see in research it should lower your chances significantly. 

I used TherBiotic Complete and Life9 during my first pregnancy and had a negative GBS test and no issues. However, after reading more research on these probiotic strains and personally really wanting to avoid any antibiotics during labor, I'm going to give this one a try to be extra preventative.

So it's up to you on how preventative you want to be! 

If you're reading this and you have already had a positive test result or had a positive with past pregnancies:

I also know women have successfully reversed a positive GBS test with various interventions, this being one of them which is also backed by research.

In a randomized clinical trial of 99 women who tested positive for GBS between weeks 35-37 of their pregnancy, upon a repeat test when each was admitted to the hospital for delivery, 43% of the women that received probiotics after a positive GBS test, then tested *negative* for GBS! Whereas only 18% of women in the placebo group (the group that did not receive the probiotic) tested negative upon being admitted to the hospital for delivery. (You can read the study here).

So it could be possible to take this after a positive test and ask to be retested closer to delivery or at delivery if you're wanting to avoid antibiotics. Ask your healthcare provider for any other suggestions they may have to help, there are all sorts of remedies out there! 

Probiotics are the only intervention I've had personal experience with and are the only thing I'm planning on using preventatively for now. That may change if I have a negative test result.

As always, remember to always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any supplements or alternative approaches to ensure they are safe and suitable for you.