Breastfeeding probiotic are helpful for digestive problems such as diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as bacterial infections. They are available in a range of supplements and fermented foods.
Breast milk contains Lactobacillus bacteria that play a role in the development of the immune system and gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria also help prevent mastitis during breastfeeding by adhering to the surface of epithelial cells, inhibiting adherent pathogens and promoting mucin production.
The composition of the gut microbiota is determined by many factors, including a mother’s diet during pregnancy and lactation and her state of health. The environmental conditions in which a woman lives and antibiotic therapy can also affect the amount of probiotic bacteria in her breast milk.
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Studies show that the microbiota of fecal samples from breastfed infants differs from those of bottle-fed infants. This may be due to the fact that breast milk is a more concentrated source of probiotic bacteria than formula.
There is some evidence that breastfeeding mothers can supplement their diet with probiotics to boost the levels of lactic acid bacteria in their breast milk. This can improve the health of both the mother and the baby.
Probiotics can be consumed in a variety of forms such as oral tablets, capsules or liquids formulated for oral intake. They are often sold in broad-spectrum products that contain different strains of bacteria.
Although there is some evidence that breastfeeding mothers can supplement their dietary intake with probiotics to increase the amount of Lactobacillus bacteria in their breast milk, it’s not clear whether this is safe or effective for their infants. For this reason, it is best to consult a doctor about using probiotics while breastfeeding.