Is it safe to take probiotics while pregnant?

The Short Answer

For healthy pregnant and lactating women, probiotics have not shown meaningful safety concerns in the available research. A review published on PMC concluded that probiotics do not appear to pose safety concerns in pregnancy, and that systemic absorption and bloodstream infection are rare when probiotics are used by healthy people (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

That said, “safe” depends on who you are and what you are taking. Probiotics are live microorganisms, and quality varies widely between products, including whether the label accurately reflects the strains and doses.

Important: If you have a weakened immune system, a central venous catheter, significant heart valve disease, or you are critically ill, do not start a probiotic without obstetric and specialist guidance. In these situations, the risk profile can be different even if probiotics are typically low risk for healthy people.

When probiotics are most likely to be safe

Most pregnant people who are otherwise healthy can use probiotics in typical amounts found in foods (like yogurt or kefir) or in standard supplement doses. The same PMC review notes that systemic infection related to probiotics is rare in healthy users (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

Food sources tend to be a straightforward starting point because they also provide nutrition. If you tolerate dairy, yogurt with live and active cultures can be an easy option. If you do not tolerate dairy, some fermented foods can still fit, but the specific strains and amounts are often less clear than in a labeled supplement.

Research interest is growing because the microbiome shifts during pregnancy, and probiotics may have potential benefits. A review discussing site specific microbiota changes during pregnancy notes that probiotic supplementation has significant potential to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes, but also emphasizes that clinical studies are still limited (tandfonline.com).

Who should be cautious (or avoid probiotics unless advised)

Some situations warrant extra caution because the main rare but serious concern with probiotics is infection in vulnerable people. Even though the overall risk is low, pregnancy is not the time to “experiment” if you have complicating health issues.

Consider checking with your obstetric clinician before using a probiotic if any of the following apply:

If you are simply “high risk” due to pregnancy factors (like prior preterm birth), that does not automatically mean probiotics are unsafe. It means you should choose products carefully and loop in your prenatal care team, especially because evidence of benefit is still evolving (tandfonline.com).

Choosing a probiotic product more safely

Not all probiotics are interchangeable. Safety and effects are strain specific, and labels can be confusing.

A few practical ways to lower risk:

Pro Tip: If you are taking antibiotics in pregnancy and your clinician agrees a probiotic is reasonable, ask about timing. Separating the probiotic and antibiotic by a few hours can help reduce the chance the antibiotic inactivates the probiotic.

Side effects, warning signs, and when to stop

Mild digestive effects are the most common issue. Gas, bloating, or a change in stool pattern can happen when you start a probiotic, and it often settles within a few days.

Stop the probiotic and contact your healthcare provider promptly if you develop fever, chills, worsening abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bloody stools, or you feel significantly unwell. Those symptoms are not typical “adjustment” effects and need medical assessment.

Also call your clinician if you have new vaginal symptoms (burning, irritation, unusual discharge) after starting an oral or vaginal probiotic. While some people try probiotics for vaginal health, pregnancy is a time to rule out infections and avoid self treatment.

Key takeaways for pregnancy

If you are healthy and your pregnancy is uncomplicated, probiotics are generally viewed as low risk based on current evidence, including a safety review on PMC (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The biggest real world issues tend to be product quality and choosing a strain with a track record in pregnancy.

If you have immune suppression, serious underlying illness, or medical devices like central lines, do not start a probiotic without medical guidance. In those cases, the rare risks matter more.

Evidence for benefits is promising in some areas, but not definitive. Research on pregnancy related microbiota changes suggests potential to reduce adverse outcomes, while also noting that clinical studies remain limited (tandfonline.com).