Is it good for pregnant women to take probiotics?

Probiotics are a relatively common nutritional supplement and an essential nutrient for the human body. Of course, many women worry that taking probiotics during pregnancy is not good and will affect the healthy development of the baby. In fact, taking probiotics during pregnancy is good for both women and babies. Below, I will introduce to you in detail the benefits of taking probiotics for pregnant women!

1. It can reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes

As people's living standards improve, the obesity rate increases, and the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) also increases. Data show that the incidence of gestational diabetes among women in my country is currently 3-5, and is increasing year by year. Gestational diabetes is very harmful to both mother and baby: it may cause polyhydramnios, premature birth, and even endanger the baby's life. Pregnant women with GDM who are 19-34 years old may develop into true diabetes later.

Supplementing with probiotics in early pregnancy is the safest and most effective way to reduce the occurrence of gestational diabetes. In the study, the 256 women were randomly divided into three groups (dietary intervention, placebo, and probiotics). Only 13 of the pregnant women in the group taking probiotics developed gestational hyperglycemia, while in the other two groups, the phenomenon of hyperglycemia reached about 36%. This experiment not only shows that it is 100% safe for pregnant women to take probiotic supplements, but also fully proves the preventive effect of probiotics on gestational diabetes.

2. It can effectively improve the mother's "resistance"

During the special period of pregnancy, what pregnant women fear most is probably getting sick. The special nature of pregnancy makes it difficult for pregnant women to choose suitable medicines for fear of causing harm to the fetus. Many studies have shown that the balance of intestinal flora is directly related to people's physical health. Taking probiotic supplements during pregnancy can effectively enhance the metabolism and immune function of pregnant women, thereby improving their health level and resisting the invasion of various diseases in a natural way.

Taking probiotic supplements regularly during pregnancy and lactation can effectively improve the resistance of pregnant women, and thus effectively prevent "eczema" and various "allergy" symptoms that are common during pregnancy.

3. Contribute to the health of "babies"

During pregnancy, the balance of bacteria species and content in the pregnant woman's intestinal flora is crucial to maintaining normal metabolism in the pregnant woman, and may even directly affect the balance of the newborn's intestinal flora. The maturation of the infant's own immune system (especially for infants born vaginally and breastfed) is directly influenced by the intestinal flora. Among them, the mode of delivery determines the microecological environment that the baby first comes into contact with after birth.

There are a small number of microorganisms in the mother's amniotic fluid, and their types and numbers are very small. This is the first type of microorganisms that the baby comes into contact with. Next, the baby’s microbial environment will be affected by the first external environment she encounters after birth: if it is a normal vaginal birth, the microbiome in her body comes from the mother’s vagina; if it is a cesarean section, the microbiome in her body comes from the mother’s skin environment.

The baby's intestinal flora will not be gradually established until it is born and receives breastfeeding. Taking probiotic products during pregnancy can effectively improve the mother's intestinal flora, which in turn helps to enhance the baby's resistance and healthy intestinal ecological environment. Clinical trials have shown that babies born to mothers who take probiotics during pregnancy are less likely to suffer from diarrhea, hernia, and constipation during the 2 to 6 months period than other babies.