{"id":163725,"date":"2024-05-07T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/live-cultures-while-breastfeeding\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T12:16:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:16:39","slug":"live-cultures-while-breastfeeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/live-cultures-while-breastfeeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Take Live Cultures While Breastfeeding?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A breastfeeding mother needs to be mindful of anything she takes or consumes. Harmful ingredients from foods, supplements, and medications may make their way to breastmilk and pose some risk to the infant. Are live cultures supplements<\/a><\/strong> one of them though? Can moms safely take live cultures while breastfeeding? Let\u2019s find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are live cultures?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Live cultures, a.k.a. probiotics, are good and beneficial bacteria. They are found primarily in the gut, but also in other parts of the body. They\u2019re naturally part of the gut microbiome, which is home to trillions of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. 1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When are babies first exposed to live cultures?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It was previously thought that the womb is a sterile environment and that unborn babies aren\u2019t exposed to microbes within the womb. But new studies have found the presence of microbes in the amniotic fluid, umbilical blood cord, and the placenta, suggesting the presence of a prenatal microbiome<\/strong>. 2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of the womb, however, babies born via vaginal delivery have a distinct advantage over C-section babies. They are exposed to protective bacteria, such as Lactobacillus<\/em> bacteria, when they pass through their mother\u2019s vaginal canal<\/strong>. These newborns also typically have a more robust immune system compared to C-section babies. 3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, studies show that the guts of C-section babies are primarily colonized by potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus<\/strong>, which are typically present on hospital surfaces and human skin. C-section babies have a higher risk of allergies, asthma, gastroenteritis, Celiac disease, and even type 1 diabetes. 4<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can live cultures be passed through breastmilk?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, live cultures have been isolated from human breastmilk, meaning they make it all the way from the mother\u2019s gut to the breastmilk. How? Well, according to Jimenez et al., these tiny microorganisms use the entero-mammary pathway<\/strong> to cross the intestine and reach the mammary glands. 5<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it okay for moms to take live cultures while breastfeeding?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, healthy breastfeeding moms should be able to take live cultures supplements<\/strong> with no issues. <\/p>\n\n\n

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After all, breastmilk is a significant source of live cultures<\/strong> for nursing infants. Examples of live culture strains found in breastmilk are Lactobacillus gasseri<\/em>, L. fermentum<\/em>, and L. salivarius<\/em>.6<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to live cultures, fibre or prebiotics are also naturally present in breastmilk<\/strong>. Fibre act as food for live cultures, allowing them to multiply and grow in numbers. This live cultures + fibre<\/a><\/strong> combo contributes to a more robust immune system in breastfed infants.7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, make sure you speak with your primary care physician or paediatrician before taking live cultures or any supplements, for that matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do live cultures in breastmilk help babies?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that we know live cultures are one of the \u201cingredients\u201d in breastmilk, here\u2019s how it helps babies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n