4 Reasons to Take Probiotics During Pregnancy
When you’re expecting, you know that you would do anything in the world for your little one. And one of the best things you can do is to prioritize your own health, starting with your gut.
Having a strong and healthy gastrointestinal system are important for both mom and the developing baby.
Probiotics are one of the top supplements to include in during your baby’s development. They have been well-document to help the digestive system work more efficiently and research substantiates that Probiotics during pregnancy may be beneficial in supporting a positive pregnancy experience.
1. Strengthens Immunity
Scientists confirm that 80% of the immune system lives in the gastrointestinal tract. Optimizing and supporting the wellness of the gut is one of the most powerful things that can be done to strengthen immune health.
The changes during pregnancy such as stress, poor diet, and medication, are only some of the factors that can deplete levels of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. This can compromise the immune function of the mother, and consequently, the baby.
Probiotics are "friendly" bacteria that help create a healthy balance of intestinal “microflora,” benefiting overall health and immunity. When the gut is healthy, the good bacteria, or Probiotics, provide a protective barrier against unwelcome outside invaders.
Probiotics taken during pregnancy promote the health of immune system. While a woman is pregnant, the antibodies from the mom's body are passed through the placenta to the baby.
Research has shown that the healthier a woman’s immune system and gut microbiome are, the better it is for their developing child’s health. In fact, the microbes in the mother’s body affect the baby all throughout the pregnancy, during birth, and for the rest of their life.
2. Nutritional Support
The more nourishment moms get, the more the baby receives, as well. Probiotics support the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food, which benefits both Mom and the little one she’s carrying.
Studies reveal that diet during pregnancy and infancy has an influence on a child's immune development
Research also indicates a positive association between taking probiotics and healthy digestion
3. Helps with Regularity
Constipation and diarrhea are frequently experienced during pregnancy because of sudden changes in diet, anxiety, or lack of exercise. Probiotics may help to ease these intestinal issues that women face during this time. Beneficial bacteria can help manage the symptoms of constipation and provide some relief from gastrointestinal irregularity.
4. Improves Postpartum Symptoms
Up to 80 percent of moms experience some form of the “baby blues,” a postpartum physical and emotional change. Published research demonstrates that Probiotic treatment helps lower postnatal depression and anxiety while improving postpartum depression symptoms.
Even More Benefits
Throughout pregnancy and birth, specific Probiotic interventions provide a wide range of benefits that promote the health not only of the mother, but also of the child:
Probiotic supplementation plays a role in reducing preterm delivery, perinatal infections, and gastrointestinal issues.
Studies suggest Probiotic supplements have the potential to deliver protection against gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Researchers stated that supplementation with “Probiotics have been found to be a promising option in the metabolic management of GDM in pregnant women.”
Maternal Probiotic supplementation before and after delivery helps reduce the risk of eczema in children. In fact, data demonstrates that Probiotic supplementation may help avert infantile eczema.
Probiotic intake may actually help new mothers lose that postpartum “baby weight” sooner. Supplementing with Probiotics during the first trimester and until the end of breastfeeding was associated with less central obesity one year after giving birth.
Probiotics and Pregnancy
Every choice you make during pregnancy has an effect on your growing baby. But there is no need to worry. Taking good care of yourself and adding a simple Probiotic can have a positive influence on your baby’s lifelong health, months before they make their long-awaited entrance into the world.
To give your gut and digestive system the extra support it needs during this important time, consider a high-quality Probiotic formulated specifically for women. It may help boost the health of both you and your new arrival.
