Can pregnant women drink yakult? Quoted from the American Pregnancy Association, yakult is classified as a probiotic drink that functions to improve digestive health, so it is safe for consumption by pregnant women. Find out more about the benefits of yakult for pregnant women.
Until now, no risks or pregnancy complications have been found due to probiotic drinks. So, can pregnant women drink yakult? The answer is yes. If consumed in the right dosage, here are the various benefits of yakult for pregnant women.
Benefits of Yakult for Pregnant Women
Meeting nutritional needs during pregnancy is important for the health of pregnant women and their fetuses, including gut health. A healthy gut will prevent pregnant women from pregnancy complications. One drink that is good for gut health is probiotics, such as yakult. What are the benefits of Yakult for pregnant women? Here’s the explanation:
1. Maintain digestive health
Facilitating digestion is the benefit of probiotic drinks such as yakult, which are widely known. Probiotics work by optimizing intestinal function to carry food and reduce bad bacteria, thus reducing the risk of pregnancy complications. However, it’s not enough to just drink probiotics to improve digestion. Pregnant women also need to adopt a healthy diet that is high in fiber, for example vegetables and fruits.
2. Reducing the risk of preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that has a fatal risk for the mother and fetus. Preeclampsia occurs when protein and blood pressure levels rise in the urine. To reduce the risk of preeclampsia, pregnant women can consume yakult. Quoted from the British Medical Journal, regular consumption of probiotics, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy, is effective in reducing the risk of preeclampsia.
In addition, to prevent the risk of preeclampsia, pregnant women are advised to check their blood pressure regularly to the obstetrician, eat a balanced nutritious diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and reduce foods high in salt.
3. Reducing the risk of vaginal infections
Another benefit of drinking yakult regularly is reducing the risk of vaginal infections that are at risk of occurring during pregnancy. Probiotics work by increasing the good bacteria in the vagina, thereby inhibiting the growth of organisms that cause harmful infections. In addition, vaginal infections run the risk of being transmitted to the fetus, thus injuring the fetus, even premature birth or miscarriage.
Symptoms of a vaginal infection to watch out for include discomfort during intercourse, a burning sensation when urinating, pain and itching in the vagina, swelling and redness in the vagina, and vaginal discharge with a yellowish tint. If a pregnant woman feels these symptoms, she should check with an obstetrician to diagnose the cause and give appropriate treatment. Although vaginal infections cannot be avoided, pregnant women can maintain vaginal health by drinking probiotic drinks, such as yakult.
4. Prevent gestational diabetes
Regular consumption of probiotics is also effective in preventing gestational diabetes, which is only experienced by pregnant women. Quoted from the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers have proven that consumption of probiotics during pregnancy can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes.
Apart from drinking probiotic drinks, pregnant women should take various ways to prevent gestational diabetes, such as exercising regularly, eating a balanced nutritious diet, and reducing foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. Pregnant women are also advised to check their blood sugar levels regularly to the obstetrician.
