Probiotics During Pregnancy: Good for You and Your Baby?

Overview

• Can you take probiotics while pregnant? Probiotics studied during pregnancy have generally been found safe, with no major risks identified. Still, it’s best to check with your doctor before starting one.
• Pregnancy can alter the vaginal microbiome, and it often brings digestive issues like constipation and morning sickness. Certain probiotics may help relieve some of these symptoms.
• Certain probiotics may support digestion. Some have also been linked to a lower risk of gestational diabetes and less vaginal group B Streptococcus (GBS), though results vary by product.
• Your baby may benefit from your probiotics, too! Early research is exploring potential benefits for allergy prevention, skin health, and gut health.
• When choosing a probiotic, check for quality, CFU/AFU count, route of administration, and storage needs.

Pregnancy is filled with excitement, questions, and perhaps a few culinary experiments that would make any self-respecting chef do a double-take. Between cravings for ice cream with pickles and tiny kicks reminding you who’s really in charge, you might find yourself pondering the benefits of probiotics. After all, digestive discomfort is probably part of the daily routine by now.

With gut health playing a big role in overall health and well-being, it’s no surprise that many pregnant people ask, “Can probiotics be good for me and my baby?”

So far, the probiotics studied in pregnancy have a reassuring safety record. What any one probiotic can do for you, though, depends on its exact strains, the dose, and what you’re hoping it will help with. 🤰

Are Probiotics Safe During Pregnancy?

It’s natural to wonder whether adding a probiotic to your daily routine is safe while you’re expecting. Probiotics (microorganisms that positively impact health when consumed at effective levels) have been the focus of numerous scientific studies.^1,2,3,4

Reviews of probiotics studied during pregnancy found no serious safety problems for mothers or infants.^4,5,6 Some people had mild effects, like loose stools or changes in vaginal discharge. Safety data also vary by product and stage of pregnancy, so “generally safe” ≠ risk-free for every person.

That said, every pregnancy is unique, and what’s right for one person may not be the best for another.

How Your Microbiomes Change During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the microbes in both your gut and vagina go through changes that help protect you and your growing baby.

Your gut microbiome can shift to include more microbes that help extract extra energy from food, supporting your increased energy needs.⁷

As estrogen and progesterone rise, your vaginal microbiome typically shifts toward a more stable community dominated by Lactobacillus bacteria. These bacteria produce lactic acid, which keeps the vagina acidic and helps guard against infection.^8,9,10

Before conception, a healthy vaginal microbiome can also influence fertility by supporting cervical mucus quality and helping sperm along their journey to fertilization.¹¹

🥚 Learn More: Can Probiotics Actually Support Your Fertility Journey?

Digestive Changes During Pregnancy

Just as your gut and vaginal microbiomes adapt during pregnancy, your digestive system also goes through noticeable shifts.⁷ As your baby grows, you might experience digestive issues that make life a bit more… interesting. 😅

Common gut-related symptoms in pregnancy:

• Bloating
• Constipation⁷
• Gas
• Heartburn (especially in the third trimester)
• Indigestion⁷
• Nausea¹²
• Vomiting (“morning” sickness)¹²
• Diarrhea

Blame hormones, at least partly. Rising progesterone relaxes the muscles in your gastrointestinal tract, which slows digestion. That gives your body more time to absorb nutrients for your baby’s development, but it can also cause those unwelcome symptoms.¹³

Vaginal Changes During Pregnancy

Rising estrogen and progesterone levels promote the storage of glycogen—a complex carbohydrate your body uses to store energy—in your vaginal lining.¹⁴ This extra glycogen fuels bacteria like Lactobacillus and helps them thrive. (Think of it as a built-in snack bar for your good bacteria.)

Even so, the vaginal microbiome keeps shifting throughout pregnancy.^8,9 Lactobacillus species like L. iners and L. crispatus stay dominant, but the overall diversity and richness of these microbes fluctuate, which can make you more susceptible to infections.¹⁵

Rising estrogen also encourages the growth of a yeast called Candida albicans. That makes yeast infections more likely.¹⁶

Shifts in your bacterial landscape might also make you more prone to infections like trichomonas vaginalis (TV) or bacterial vaginosis (BV). In BV, harmful bacteria outnumber the protective ones, causing discharge and odor. BV has even been linked to more serious complications, like preterm birth.^17,18,19

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), which is found in about 35% of women, is a leading cause of infections in newborns and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and it can also affect a baby’s gut bacteria.¹⁵ In 2016, researchers found that infants born to GBS-positive moms had noticeable differences in their gut microbiomes at 6 months old compared to those whose mothers were GBS-negative.²⁰

Can You Take Probiotics While Pregnant?

Research so far hasn’t flagged serious safety problems with the probiotics studied in pregnancy. So the more useful question is which probiotic, and for what.

Focus on the exact formulation studied in pregnant people and the outcome researchers measured. A result for one strain, blend, dose, or delivery route ≠ a result for another. Your obstetrician or midwife can help you weigh that evidence against your health history and the reason you’re considering a probiotic.

Potential Benefits of Probiotics During Pregnancy: What Research Says

Researchers have tested certain probiotics during pregnancy for digestive symptoms, blood sugar, vaginal group B Streptococcus, and infant eczema. Results differ by goal and product, and so does the strength of the evidence. Some reviews also raise open questions about preeclampsia.²¹

Think of probiotics as a product-specific choice, not a stand-in for prenatal care. Every pregnancy is as unique as the little person you’re bringing into the world, so don’t use a probiotic to prevent or treat a pregnancy problem unless your OB-GYN gives you a specific plan.

Probiotics for Constipation During Pregnancy

Let’s be honest—bloating, constipation, and gas can become uninvited guests during pregnancy. In 2024, researchers tested a certain probiotic blend in pregnant women and found better constipation symptoms and bowel function.² That doesn’t mean every probiotic relieves constipation.

Probiotics and Group B Strep During Pregnancy

In 2022, researchers who pooled several studies found less vaginal GBS late in pregnancy among people taking certain oral probiotics. The effect was stronger when they started after 30 weeks.²² Probiotics don’t replace prenatal GBS testing or antibiotics when they’re needed.

Probiotics and Gestational Diabetes

In 2025, a large review of earlier reviews linked certain probiotics with a lower risk of gestational diabetes, along with improvements in some blood-sugar and insulin measures.²¹ But the strength of the evidence varied. Don’t use probiotics to prevent or manage gestational diabetes without your OB-GYN.

Probiotics and Infant Eczema

In 2022, a review linked certain probiotics taken late in pregnancy with less eczema in infants. The link was strongest in babies with a high family risk of allergies.²³ Results for asthma and other allergies were mixed.

Probiotics and Birth Outcomes

When researchers pooled trial data in 2021, they found no clear change in preterm birth, birth weight, length of pregnancy, or cesarean rates with the probiotics tested. But preterm births were rare in these trials, so larger studies are still needed.²⁴

Probiotics for Morning Sickness

Around 70% of pregnant women have some form of morning sickness. In 2021, one small study found less nausea and vomiting with a specific probiotic regimen.¹² That’s early evidence, not a general treatment tip.

🔬 Science Translation: Certain probiotics have promising results for specific pregnancy goals, like easing constipation or lowering vaginal GBS. Each result applies to the product that was tested, not to probiotics in general.

How to Choose a Probiotic During Pregnancy

When you’re comparing probiotics during pregnancy, check these five things:

• Specific Strains and Evidence: Look for a label that identifies the strains in the product. Then check whether that exact strain or blend was studied in pregnant people for the outcome you care about. No single strain is best across every pregnancy goal, and one formulation’s results can’t be borrowed for another.
• Active Fluorescent Units (AFUs) or Colony Forming Units (CFUs): These measurements indicate the amount of viable bacteria in a probiotic. While CFUs are more commonly used, AFUs offer a more precise count by measuring both viable and active bacteria using flow cytometry, a lab technique that uses fluorescence to detect glowing cells and spores. Reliable products should clearly list AFU or CFU counts on their packaging to ensure transparency.
• Storage Requirements: Some probiotics require refrigeration to maintain their potency, while others are shelf-stable. Check the storage instructions on the packaging.
• Delivery Method: Probiotics come in various forms: capsules, tablets, powders, and vaginal products. Delivery route can change where a formulation acts, but one trial ≠ proof that vaginal products are broadly better than oral ones.²⁵ Ask your OB-GYN or midwife before using any vaginal product during pregnancy.
• Additional Ingredients: Pay attention to any added ingredients, such as fillers, binders, or potential allergens. Opting for products with minimal unnecessary additives can reduce the potential for adverse reactions.

💡 Pro Tip: Bring the product label to your next prenatal visit. Your OB-GYN or midwife can check its strains against your health history before you start.

The Key Insight

Pregnancy is full of important choices: the nursery, the food, and—for those reading—gut and vaginal health. Reviews found no serious safety problems with the probiotics studied during pregnancy.⁴ Still, possible benefits and risks depend on the exact product and your goal. Just like choosing the perfect name or the softest blanket, find what’s right for you with your OB-GYN.

It may not seem like it now, but prioritizing your gut health is a simple yet meaningful way to take care of yourself during pregnancy. After all, nurturing yourself is the first step in nurturing the little ones along for the ride.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can Taking Probiotics During Pregnancy Cause Any Side Effects?

Serious side effects seem rare in pregnancy studies so far.⁴ Some products caused mild digestive symptoms, loose stools, or changes in vaginal discharge. Safety can depend on the product and your health history, so ask your OB-GYN or midwife about a specific probiotic instead of following a general starting dose.

Which Probiotics Are Best For Pregnant Women?

There is no single best probiotic for pregnancy. Ask whether the exact strain or blend was studied in pregnant people for your goal. The dose and stage of pregnancy should also match the research. Bring the label to your OB-GYN, who can weigh the evidence with your health history and prenatal care.

Do Probiotics While Pregnant Affect The Baby’s Health?

Possibly, but the effect isn’t one-size-fits-all. Research has looked at infant eczema, allergies, and the infant gut after probiotic use by the mother.^26,27 The clearest hopeful link is less eczema in some babies at higher risk. Results for asthma and other allergies were mixed.²³ This doesn’t prove a broad benefit for fetal health.

Are Probiotics Safe To Take While Breastfeeding?

Studies during breastfeeding suggest low risk, but the exact product still matters.^4,5,6 Research is testing effects on the infant gut and eczema. Those results don’t apply to every product or baby, so ask your clinician or your baby’s doctor about a specific blend.

🤱 Learn More: Microbes on Tap: Breastfeeding, Probiotics, and Your Baby’s Gut