Hello Ladies. I was wondering if any of you who are currently pregnant are taking or know anything about the safety of probiotics via capsule or powder form during pregnancy. I'm just starting my 18th week with my third pregnancy. Thanks for any info you might have!
Thank you, ladies, for all of your helpful advice! I've always loved the kefir yogurt drink and of course regular yogurt. My son does too! When he was around 9 months I started him on the organic baby yogurts and he LOVED them! He was a nursed baby as well, until 15 months, so I'm super protective of what goes in to his new little body. I never thought about taking extra for the time of delivery...I won't be on any IV's but if something were to happen so that I had to be on one or have an epidural it couldn't hurt to help boost our immune systems before hand. Looks like I'll be trying to locate one of your suggestions at my local natural food store. I do think taking a little extra will be good for all of us...including my hubby, if I can convince him! Thank you all so much again for responding to my question...it was very helpful!
Blessings to all,
P.
I am currently pregnant with my second child. Maybe I'm out of the loop; however, what is probiotics?
I think probiotics during pregnancy is very important - but I'm not a doctor, just a mom (wink.) I've started taking Kefir but it's liquid form. The maker is 'Lifeway' and I can pick it up in the organic section of my local market. My chiropractors are very pro-probiotics, I'll ask them what they recommend for pregnant moms in powder form. I'm nursing now - gave birth to my second baby back in May. He's still exclusively breastfed. I didn't know much about the benefits of probiotics during my pregnancy so it's a question I never asked. Have you asked your midwife/doctor?
I saw on one of the news shows not too long ago that the probiotic smoothies and yogurts were not recommended for pregnant women, young children, those with compromised immune systems, or the elderly and that research done had shows that they work best for healthy adults with digestive problems. unfortunately, i dont' remember which show or who conducted the research.
Probiotics are very beneficial in building good healthy gut flora during pregnancy and every stage of life for children through adulthood. I prefer and recommend capsules for those who can swallow them as they get more concentrated amounts into the system--but plain or vanilla yogurt from Dannon or Stoneybrook Farms is also an excellent source. Kefir and other fertmented, natural, and raw sources are even more incredible for building good flora and keeping bad bacteria at bay.
Children can certainly benefit from raw sources of probiotics in easily digestable forms but if it is not readily available for you or you have a picky eater, powdered probiotics are often easier to include in foods for them to assimilate into their systems.
My favorite probiotic that is reasonable in cost is PB-8 and they offer it encapsulated and in a powder for all to use. It is found in some health food stores and more easily on line.
Yes! Take it, esp. if you are delivering in a hospital and might need to be on IV antibiotics for GBS positive. I like Kyodophilus - doesn't contain milk and doesn't need to be refrigerated. If you do get IV antibiotics you can give some to the baby right away to avoid thrush (1/2 capsule)
Try culturelle, which is lactobacillus gg and proven by my NYC doctor to be very effective. I took it throughout my third pregnancy and still take it.
