Taking probiotics during pregnancy. Are they useful therapy for mothers and newborns?
OBJECTIVE
Recently, several of my pregnant patients have asked me about using probiotics during pregnancy. Is there any evidence that these innocuous bacteria work effectively?


CONCLUSIONS
An increasing body of evidence suggests that probiotics are effective for treating bacterial vaginosis and allergic reactions. Most probiotics available in Canada, however, are of dubious quality, and, for many claimed indications, there is no proof of effectiveness yet.
Reid
Gregor
G
Canadian Research and Development Centre for Probiotics, Lawson Health Research Institute.
Kirjaivanen
Pirkka
P
D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012449:Safety