7 Probiotics for Breastfeeding Moms | IBCLC Recommended
Probiotics can be helpful for breastfeeding mothers in a variety of ways. In this article, we share our favorite probiotics for breastfeeding moms and other helpful information you should know about taking probiotics while breastfeeding.
For breastfeeding moms, focusing on your health is important. Not only is it necessary for you to be feeling well, but your health can also impact the health of your infant.
In this article, we will explore some of the best probiotic brands specifically tailored to meet the needs of breastfeeding moms. As with any probiotic, it can take some trial and error to find the one that works best for your needs. Working with a nutritionist or functional health professional can help you pinpoint the strains that might help you the most.
Hi! 👋 I’m Katie, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant I have helped thousands of moms worldwide navigate their breastfeeding journey since 2015. I can’t wait to help you! Consider checking out my 1:1 lactation support services or enrolling in one of our online breastfeeding courses today!
Looking for recommendations for your baby? Here are our favorite probiotics for breastfed babies.
1 – Ther-Biotic® Target b2™
- Probiotic demonstrated to support breast health during lactation and immune health in infants. These capsules are designed to be taken by pregnant and lactating mothers.*
- Featuring Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, normally part of the healthy breastmilk microbiome. This strain was specifically selected for its safety of origin and immune supportive properties.*
- Adults: It is recommended to start supplementation with one capsule of Target b2 in the third trimester of pregnancy and continue while nursing (or as directed by your healthcare professional).* This product is designed to be taken by adults, not infant supplementation.
- Contains: Milk. Free of the following common allergens: eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, gluten, and soybeans. Contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- Trusted by healthcare practitioners since 1969, Klaire Labs products are developed closely with physicians and are intended to be used as directed by a healthcare practitioner.
Ther-Biotic® Target b2™ is a renowned probiotic brand known for its high-quality and research-backed formulations. Specifically designed for breastfeeding mothers, this probiotic is sourced from mothers’ milk to ensure quality.
The strain that this probiotic has is Lactobacillus fermentum. This has been clinically studied to possibly help prevent mastitis. This would be a great one for anyone struggling with recurrent mastitis.
2 – Lactation Hub BreastHealth+ Probiotic
Lactation Hub Breast Health Probiotic is crafted to address the specific health concerns faced by breastfeeding moms. The probiotic blend includes strains that may support breast health and promote a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. By nurturing the gut flora, this probiotic can contribute to the overall well-being of both mother and baby.
It also contains choline, and it’s been designed to specifically address issues with clogged ducts.
3 – Pink Stork Total Lactation Probiotic
- Breastfeeding Essentials: Pink Stork Total Lactation Probiotic Supplement supports gut health, digestive wellness, and immune health for you and your breastfed baby. Including our probiotics for breastfeeding women in your daily postnatal ritual is easy, with 1 capsule daily. Pair with any Pink Stork Postnatal Vitamins for women and lactation support products for optimal results.
- Why Probiotics? Probiotics help balance the good and bad bacteria in your body, which supports digestion, postpartum constipation, gut health, vaginal pH balance, immune health, and overall wellness. Postpartum hormones can be linked to gut health - and the bacteria in your gut may create up to 90% of your body's supply of serotonin!
- Breastfeeding Essentials: Not any ordinary lactation supplements for breastfeeding moms, probiotic benefits can be passed through breast milk to support your baby's developing immune system and gut health.
- Clean: Pink Stork Lactation Probiotics do not contain gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, or GMOs. Third-party tested and breastfeeding-friendly for nursing and pumping moms.
- Women-Owned, Women-Run! Our founder and CEO, Amy Suzanne, is a mom of 6 children and knows how important it is to give new moms products you can trust. Over 80% of our employees are women, and we create clean, trusted, and effective products for every stage of your journey. We are on a mission to provide women with hope and positively impact everyone that comes in contact with Pink Stork.
Pink Stork is a brand dedicated to women’s health, and their Total Lactation Probiotic is a fantastic choice for breastfeeding moms. Packed with their proprietary nursing probiotic blend, this supplement aids in maintaining a healthy gut flora for the mother, which can impact both mom and baby’s gut, reduce the risk of digestive issues, and even help with immune help.
This probiotic doesn’t contain any wheat, dairy, soy or GMOs, and it’s just one capsule – which makes it easy to take.
4 – Elactia Biogaia Breastfeeding Comfort Probiotic
- Probiotic demonstrated to support breast health during lactation and immune health in infants. These capsules are designed to be taken by pregnant and lactating mothers.*
- Featuring Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, normally part of the healthy breastmilk microbiome. This strain was specifically selected for its safety of origin and immune supportive properties.*
- Adults: It is recommended to start supplementation with one capsule of Target b2 in the third trimester of pregnancy and continue while nursing (or as directed by your healthcare professional).* This product is designed to be taken by adults, not infant supplementation.
- Contains: Milk. Free of the following common allergens: eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, gluten, and soybeans. Contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- Trusted by healthcare practitioners since 1969, Klaire Labs products are developed closely with physicians and are intended to be used as directed by a healthcare practitioner.
Elactia’s Breastfeeding Probiotic is formulated with the specific needs of lactating mothers in mind. They claim it has been clinically shown to promote breast health during lactation.
The goal of this probiotic is to help decrease discomfort with breastfeeding and lead to more positive outcomes for mom and baby. It is organic, and many of the reviews say that it has helped prevent clogged ducts and decrease breastfeeding pain.
Probiotic strain included: L. fermentum
5 – Needed Postnatal Probiotic
As the name suggests, Needed Postnatal Probiotic is designed to cater to the unique needs of new mothers. This probiotic blend aims to restore gut health after childbirth and promote overall well-being. With strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, Needed Postnatal Probiotics can aid in reducing postpartum digestive issues, boosting energy levels, and supporting a positive mood.
The Needed probiotic blend includes eight different strains chosen specifically for the needs of postpartum women, and it also includes three different prebiotics. It is designed to help with vaginal balance, digestive support, and iron absorption:
Cost: $59 per month, or $44.99 per month with a three-month supply. Use code TBM10 for 10% off.
6 – Love Bug Postnatal Probiotic
- FOR BREAST MILK PRODUCTION & ACID REFLUX RELIEF. Includes our proprietary lactation blend of Fenugreek Seed, Milk Thistle & Fennel Seed. Helps boost your natural production of B vitamins, including folate.*
- SUPPORTS POSTNATAL DIGESTIVE & IMMUNE HEALTH: Multi-strain formula including B Infantis & L Plantarum. Support your digestive and immune health, support glucose levels already in a normal range, and support mental & emotional function.*
- ALLERGEN FRIENDLY, VEGAN PROBIOTICS. We take everyone into account which is why our probiotics are free of the 8 major allergens. NON-GMO WITH NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS OR FLAVORS. Choose a probiotic with natural ingredients. Our probiotics are free of GMO's, fillers, artificial colors, flavors or ingredients.
- AWARD WINNING. Lovebug is the proud recipient of the Eco-Excellence Award, and various widely recognized "Product of the Year" accolades. These awards recognize LoveBug's commitment to not only quality and purity, but also crafting products that meet the unique needs of our customers.
- LOVEBUG – THE NAME YOU TRUST IN PROBIOTICS. Created by a mom, for moms & trusted by moms everywhere, our staged-line of probiotics has you covered for the whole family. All of our products are third-party tested and manufactured in the USA, in a GMP registered facility to the highest quality standards.
I have been a fan of Love Bug probiotics for a while now, as I felt like we had good success with their infant probiotics. Their postnatal probiotic contains probiotics that have been clinically studied for acid reflux and breast milk production.
It does include fenugreek, which isn’t my favorite galactagogue since some moms do have a negative reaction. It also has milk thistle and fennel seed, in addition to seven probiotic strains, which they claim, “Support your digestive and immune health, support glucose levels already in a normal range, and support mental & emotional function.*”
7 – Mama Bird Probiotics
- BRAIN-FIRST, SCIENCE-BACKED NUTRITION: Focused on neuroscience-based nutrition, this formula contains over 50 billion CFUs, combining the advantages of 15 diverse probiotic strains. It is designed to cultivate a synergistic connection between the digestive system and brain health. By nurturing the gastrointestinal system, often referred to as our 'second brain,' it facilitates balanced digestion and consistency. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of well-being, rendering it an important dietary supplement for women's health.
- YOU DESERVE TO FEEL YOUR BEST: Encapsulated in time-delayed, acid-resistant capsules, that withstand digestive acids our once daily women probiotic 50 billion CFU formula is designed for safe delivery to the lower gut where they get to work. This small, easy-to-swallow capsule simplifies your daily health routine, promoting regularity and gut health.
- THE BEST INGREDIENTS MAKE THE BEST VITAMINS: Committed to high standards, our non-GMO, gluten-free, and dairy-free probiotic supplement is proudly produced in the U.S.A. Each batch undergoes third-party ISO/IEC 17025 lab testing for potency and purity, offering a product that supports your wellness journey.
- LIVE BEAUTIFULLY WITH SMART NUTRITION: Developed by our very own neurologist mom Dr. Mika Gupta, our women's probiotics 50 billion CFU supplement is part of a holistic approach to health, supporting you from pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Trust in our mission to provide nutrition that helps your family thrive.
- BROWSE OUR WELLNESS COLLECTION: Elevate your wellness experience with Best Nest Wellness. Our women's probiotic pairs perfectly with Mama Bird Prenatal Multi+ and Mama Bird Prenatal DHA for brain health. Explore the complete range of Best Nest Wellness, where you'll find supplements tailored to meet your health requirements.
The Mama Bird Probiotic is created for both prenatal and postnatal women to help balance gut and mind. It has 15 different probiotic strains in it. The probiotic is made with a time-released capsule, which helps the probiotic to withstand being destroyed in the gut. It’s created by a neurologist and with clean ingredients.
While I don’t believe this one is specifically designed for breastfeeding, if you don’t have an issue you are looking to solve, this can be a good catch-all probiotic.
What to look for in a probiotic while breastfeeding?
When you are choosing a probiotic, here are a few things to consider:
- The strains of probiotics – having tons of different strains isn’t always ideal. Finding a probiotic that specifically addresses that you are having is important
- Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus salivarius have limited evidence to show protective factors against mastitis
What are the benefits of taking a probiotic while nursing?
There isn’t a ton of research available on probiotics and breastfeeding, or their impact on breast milk. However, potential benefits may include:
- Reduced incidence of clogged ducts
- Better gut health
- Better mental health
- Weight loss
- Digestive regulation
Should breastfeeding moms take probiotics?
Probiotics can be a great option for all humans – including breastfeeding moms! While there isn’t a ton of research available, the research that has been conducted shows that probiotics aren’t likely to pass through to breast milk. Of course, it’s important to discuss any new supplements or vitamins with your trusted healthcare provider.
While many people generally tolerate probiotics well, be aware of these side effects and consider switching to another one:
- Upset stomach, bloating, or gas that doesn’t resolve within a few days (you may want to start with a lower dosage of the probiotic as well)
- Rashes
- Headaches
- Tightness in the chest or throat
What supplements should breastfeeding moms avoid?
Many supplements aren’t well-studied, so you will find the vast majority of the warning “consult a medical professional before using if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.” Despite this, many actually are compatible with breastfeeding. However, here is a list of ones that you should probably avoid.
Probiotics have grown in popularity over the past decade or so, and they offer many benefits. While research is limited on their benefits for breastfeeding, there are some great options to consider, including the ones listed above.
