Probiotics: The Importance of Gut Health During Pregnancy

The following is a sponsored post from MegaFood.

There is a lot to think about when you’re pregnant, and at the forefront of many mom-to-be’s minds is ensuring they are providing both themselves and their baby with the nutrition they need. I remember for me, despite being a naturopathic doctor, I was still overwhelmed by all the things I needed to do right. Eat right. Sleep right. Exercise right. 

The first thing I focused on was my nutrition, and since I knew you can’t get everything you need from your diet alone, I turned to prenatal supplements. For many, the search for the right supplements may begin and end with a prenatal multivitamin. This is the most important supplement to consider when you’re pregnant - but it’s not the only one. 

Gut health = good health

Another key supplement consideration for pregnancy is a probiotic. You likely know them for their role in supporting healthy digestive and immune systems, and both of these can use some extra support during pregnancy.* In fact, there is strong evidence that demonstrates when mom supplements with probiotics, baby benefits!¹

Food First

When it comes to supporting foundational health - even the microbiome - food comes first. There are many ways to include more probiotics into your diet, and it all comes down to fermentation. Yogurts, kimchi, sauerkraut, and even those often-craved pickles can contribute probiotic strains when consumed on a regular basis.

Supplement Second 

In addition to these dietary inclusions, you may also want to consider a probiotic supplement that delivers a meaningful blend of key beneficial strains every day, while ensuring you’re also getting specific ones that are known to be supportive during pregnancy.

For instance, studies have shown that certain probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus (HN001), taken during the last trimester and early breastfeeding, supports the child’s developing immune system.*

To make it easy for moms-to-be to get the support they need, MegaFood crafted MegaFlora® Probiotic for Baby & Me with a broad spectrum of probiotics, including a signature blend of 14 unique strains of 20 billion probiotics plus 10 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (HN001) to support baby. Experiencing some tummy troubles? As MegaFood Medical Director, one of my favorite ingredients to talk about in this probiotic is the inclusion of ginger to soothe occasional upset stomachs and support healthy digestive function* -a MUST during pregnancy! You’ll also notice we’ve included prebiotic foods, beet root and dandelion root, which are added to nourish your microbiome.*

How To Take Your Probiotic

The serving size is two capsules a day to get you and baby the support you need! To get the most out of your probiotic, I recommend taking MegaFlora for Baby & Me daily with a meal. Why, you may ask? Based on the historical consumption of probiotics with or in food, such as fermented products, research has shown that glucose from foods may help to buffer the probiotics against the potentially damaging effects of stomach acids.²

Taking your probiotic with a specific meal each day is also a great way to stay consistent and ensure you’re getting your daily support. My pro-tip: MegaFlora for Baby & Me lives in the refrigerator, and can be easier to remember when you’re already getting out your greens to make dinner each night! 

Since supporting the optimal health of you and your baby is a priority, I recommend a daily probiotic, alongside your favorite prenatal multivitamin, to build a great foundation for you both. Remember, gut health = good health! 

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30430649/

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1151822/
 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.