Probiotics

Can you take probiotics during pregnancy?

Updated 4 Nov 2026

Short answer

Ask a doctor first, because one review found a possible harm. A 2021 Cochrane review of 7 trials with 1647 women found more pre-eclampsia, a high blood pressure disorder of pregnancy, with probiotics (risk ratio 1.85, 4 studies with 955 women, high certainty).[1] It was uncertain whether probiotics lower the risk of diabetes in pregnancy, and the authors urged caution.[1]

An earlier review found no change in the risk of preterm birth (risk ratio 1.08, 11 studies with 2484 women).[2]

Sources (2)

  1. Probiotics for preventing gestational diabetes. Davidson SJ, Barrett HL, Price SA, Callaway LK, Dekker Nitert M Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2021. PMID 33870484
  2. Pregnancy outcomes in women taking probiotics or prebiotics: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Jarde A, Lewis-Mikhael AM, Moayyedi P, Stearns JC, Collins SM, Beyene J, et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 2018. PMID 29310610

More about probiotics

What are probiotics?Do probiotics change your gut bacteria?Is a higher CFU count better?Which foods contain probiotics?What are probiotics used for?Do probiotics prevent diarrhea from antibiotics and C. difficile?

For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.