Pregnancy Probiotics

Recommended use

Food supplement suitable for pregnant women from conception through to birth and for breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women post birth with the following recommendations:

• Take 1 capsule daily, preferably with breakfast.
• For those unable to swallow capsules, open and mix contents with a cool drink / food.
• Do not exceed recommended daily dosage.
• May be taken on an ongoing basis or as professionally directed.
• For best results use daily.

Supporting Information

Morning sickness and/or nausea is a common symptom in pregnancy and therefore pregnant women often prefer taking supplements in the form of capsules. To make taking Pregnancy capsules as easy as possible, we recommend tilting the head forward to swallow the capsule. Details below:

• When swallowing tablets, it’s common to put the tablet in your mouth, drink some water and knock the head back to swallow it (i.e. look up before swallowing). Doing this uses the weight of the tablet to move it to the back of the throat and makes it easier to swallow successfully.
• With a capsule, however, this won’t work because of the air in the capsule. Instead, while the capsule and water are in the mouth, we recommend to look down before swallowing. This will buoy the capsule to the top of the water (back of the throat) and make it easier to swallow, particularly if morning sickness and/or nausea are a problem for the individual.

Storage instructions

• For best results, do not remove desiccant sachet from the glass jar and close lid firmly after each use.
• Store in a cool, dry place below 25°C and out of direct sunlight. For maximum potency, can be refrigerated after opening.

Safety

Probiotics are not recommended for those with serious medical conditions e.g. those who are severely immunosuppressed, have pancreatitis, are in the ICU, have melaena, have a central venous catheter, short bowel syndrome, or patients with open wounds following major surgery; unless under a doctor's care. Keep out of reach of children.

This is a dietary supplement and is not intended to prevent, treat or diagnose any medical conditions. Probiotic supplements should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. If you are taking any medications or have a serious medical condition, consult a doctor before use. Optibac supplements will not cause dependency and may be used on an ongoing basis.

Customer Questions

All questions answered by probiotic experts Dr. Kate Stephens PhD (Food and Microbial Sciences) BSc(Hons) Medical Microbiology and Kerry Beeson BSc (Nutritional Medicine) Nutritional Therapist.

Should you take probiotics in pregnancy?

Expectant mums may worry whether it's safe to take probiotics during pregnancy, especially as some other natural health supplements are not recommended at this time. However, Pregnancy contains probiotic strains which have been clinically trialed in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and shown to be safe¹; in fact it's advisable to support your gut with suitable probiotics at this special time. The strains in Pregnancy have been shown to offer potential benefits* for common pregnancy-related issues such as digestive health², intimate health³ and immune health⁴ as well as supporting overall wellbeing⁶ whilst pregnant and into early motherhood*.

How does this supplement differ to other probiotic supplements for pregnancy?

Pregnancy contains specific probiotic strains which have extensive research to support their use all the way from conception, throughout pregnancy and into early motherhood^2,5,6. Other brands often use the same strains of probiotics in all of their supplements, and simply add other ingredients to differentiate how they can be used. Unlike other brands, Pregnancy contains probiotic strains which have been researched during pregnancy, so there is no need for added ingredients. However, should you wish to take other prenatal supplements and vitamins, then it is fine to take your Pregnancy supplement alongside these.

What are prebiotic FOS?

FOS stands for Fructo-oligosaccharides and is a type of non-digestible carbohydrate. This means that it is not able to be broken down in the small intestines, and instead enters the large intestine where it acts as a fuel source for the bacteria living there. FOS is a prebiotic, which means it feeds our friendly bacteria, and helps to keep our microbiome healthy.

References

1. Dekker J et al. (2009). Safety aspects of probiotic bacterial strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis subs. lactis HN019 in human infants aged 0-2. International Dairy Journal, 149-154 .
2. Ibarra A et al. (2018). Effects of 28-day Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis HN019 Supplementation on Colonic Transit Time and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Adults With Functional Constipation: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, and Dose-Ranging Trial. Gut Microbes, 9(3):236-251.
3. Russo R et al. (2019). Randomised clinical trial in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: efficacy of probiotics and lactoferrin as maintenance treatment. Mycoses, DOI: 10.1111/myc.12883.
4. Sheih Y et al. (2001). Systemic immunity-enhancing effects in healthy subjects following dietary consumption of the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 20 (2): 149-156.
5. Wickens K et al. (2017). Early pregnancy probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 may reduce the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition, 117, 804-813.
6. Slykerman R et al. (2017). Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 in pregnancy on postpartum symptoms of depression and anxiety: a randomised double blind placebo controlled trial . EBioMedicine, 24, 159-165.

Ingredients 

Probiotic blend: Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14^®, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019; corn starch; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsule; Prebiotic (FOS 30mg); vegetable magnesium stearate

Each capsule guarantees 12 billion CFU.

Suitability

• Vegan
• Dairy free
• GMO free
• Gluten free
• Suitable in pregnancy
• Suitable for breastfeeding
• Soy free
• Yeast free
• Free from artificial flavorings, colorings and preservatives
• No chemicals or parabens

Following the taxonomic updates advised by a global team of scientists and published in April 2020, a reclassification has been proposed for the Lactobacillus rhamnosus species. The L. rhamnosus strain in Pregnancy may therefore now also be known as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001.

Customer reviews

• I started taking these midway through my pregnancy and have continued - baby is 4 months now. In my previous pregnancies I struggled with thrush and pleased to say I didn’t get it this time around and even with breastfeeding I haven’t got it in my nipple when I have previously. Unfortunately they didn’t help with the pregnancy constipation especially in the last trimester but I did then get the bifido and fibre supplement to use alongside these and that helped more with that side of things.

  Anna Hughes - 7th March 2022

• I really suffered in my first pregnancy with bloating and nausea when taking other tablets. Since taking these with my second pregnancy I have noticed a considerable difference. It has also helped to keep my immune system up this time as I was catching all sorts of colds and bugs previously. Would highly recommend.

  Kirsty Roberts - 20th October 2021

• I am in my third trimester and was really struggling with indigestion, bloating and gas. I was recommended these by a friend and I have found that my symptoms have really improved over the past month, I am no longer feeling uncomfortable and my digestive system is back on track. Since taking the probiotics, I have also noticed energy levels have increased as I was starting to get lethargic. I also love the fact that these probiotics are aiding my babies immune system too, especially during the uncertainty of the pandemic we are in.

  Harriet Gray - 10th September 2021

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USA Shipping

Coronavirus Update

We ship all USA orders from our warehouse in Hampshire in the UK. Due to the ongoing global pandemic many US, European and Worldwide postal routes are seeing increased transit times. Delivery times provided on this site are therefore a guide and not a guarantee. Express Services largely remain unaffected however these routes are typically subject to local tax and duties at customs.

USA standard shipping: $4.99

International postal order - typically deatched and delivered within 5-10 working days.
Free standard shipping on orders over $100.

USA express shipping: $6.99

We use DHL and orders are typically dispatched and delivered within 2-5 working days.

Good to know

• We'll send you an email to confirm once your parcel has been dispatched.
• For delivery queries, please email enquiries@optibacprobiotics.com. 
• We are unable to ship orders to PO boxes.
• Product prices on this website are always shown in US dollars (USD $) and exclude tax - tax is not applicable as orders are fulfilled from the UK.

Worldwide Delivery

• We deliver to more than 50 countries.
• Shipping is charged at cost - please note that duties may apply.
• Please allow 3-7 working days for delivery within Europe and 5-12 days to all other destinations. Includes order tracking.  
• If you are located within the United Kingdom or Europe, we recommended switching to our UK website.
• International deliveries might currently take a little longer due to the global coronavirus situation. Please refer to the webpage of our international delivery provider DHL to confirm the number of days it takes to receive your order and whether they currently ship to your country.
• Most international delivery prices are dependent on the size and weight of your order and where it is being sent. You'll be shown the final price of shipping in the checkout, before payment, once we have your address and order details.
• Long distance shipping and short-term exposure to high temperatures will not compromise the viability of our products. Customers living in very hot countries should store the products out of direct sunlight and refrigerate if the option is available.

For more details regarding international orders, currency conversion and applicable tax for orders outside the USA, please take a look at our delivery FAQ.