Are probiotics safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about probiotics during pregnancy?

1. Most commercial probiotic strains have a strong safety record in the general population, though pregnancy-specific dosing research is still limited. 1
2. Side effects from probiotics are uncommon in generally healthy people. The people who need to be most careful are those who are severely ill or immunocompromised. 2
3. Food sources like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi deliver probiotics naturally, and pasteurized yogurt and kefir don't carry the Listeria concern that unpasteurized versions do. 3
4. 'Probiotic' is a category, not one specific product: the strain, the dose, and storage needs all vary widely from brand to brand. 2

Is probiotics safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Common Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, whether from foods like yogurt and kefir or from supplements, haven't been linked to a higher risk of birth defects in the available research.
• Second trimester. Same guidance. Some providers also use probiotics to support digestion or vaginal health, or as part of gestational-diabetes care.
• Third trimester. Same guidance. If you need antibiotics late in pregnancy, for group B strep or another reason, ask your provider about timing and which probiotic strain to use.