Is Erceflora Safe for Pregnant Women?

Erceflora is a probiotic brand commonly given in cases of acute diarrhea. Since doctors prescribe Erceflora even to babies, many people think that it’s also okay for pregnant women. But, is Erceflora safe for pregnant mothers? Find out here. 

What is Erceflora?

Erceflora is a brand of oral probiotics. It comes in vials of 5ml suspension and contains spores of Lactobacillus clausii, a type of bacteria commonly found in our intestines. 

Once the bacteria reach the intestines, they can provide the following benefits:

• It improves digestion 
• Produce various vitamins, particularly those in the B vitamins group
• Help correct dysvitaminosis, a condition that happens due to excess or deficiency of certain vitamins (usually because of antibiotic use or chemotherapy)

Doctors usually recommend Erceflora for acute diarrhea (lasting no more than 14 days) as a result of drugs or infections. However, people with chronic or persistent diarrhea (more than 14 days) may also receive it. 

But, is erceflora safe for pregnant women?

Is Erceflora Safe For Pregnant Women?

The full prescribing information about Erceflora says it may be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. There are also no known interactions with the use of other drugs. While Erceflora contains spores of Lactobacillus clausii, it does not cause an infection¹.  

However, there are still reports of hypersensitivity reactions, like rash and itchiness. Hence, it’s still best for pregnant mommies to consult their doctor before taking Erceflora. 

What About Other Probiotics?

Now that we have answered the question, is Erceflora safe for pregnant mothers, let’s talk about other probiotic brands. Are probiotics, in general, safe for the mother and the baby in her womb?  

The American Pregnancy Association acknowledges that factors, such as aging, stress, medications, inactivity, and environmental toxins can negatively influence the quantity and diversity of good bacteria in the body. 

They also said that probiotics are probably safe during pregnancy. However, because there are numerous brands in the market and limited studies, they cannot say that it’s completely safe. 

Experts say that the risk of developing bacteremia (a type of infection) from Lactobacillus intake is less than 1 per 1,000,000. 

The limited studies that we have now also do not see any association between probiotic intake and birth weight, gestational age, miscarriage, or malformation. 

Other Possible Benefits of Probiotics in Pregnancy

While it’s common for pregnant moms to only think about probiotics supplements during a diarrheal illness, reports say they may have other benefits. 

For instance, researchers from the UC Davis School of Medicine observed that probiotics “significantly improve the symptoms of pregnancy-related nausea, vomiting and constipation.⁴“

Another report found that the length of pregnancy is longer in women who take probiotics than those who received a placebo. This indicates that probiotics might help reduce the risk of preterm birth or prematurity. 

The same report also concluded that probiotics were beneficial for reducing atopic eczema, eczema, gestational age, death, and necrotising enterocolitis⁵. 

Foods Naturally Rich in Probiotics

If you want to boost your probiotic intake without relying on supplements, remember that many foods have naturally occurring probiotics. 

Plain yogurt, for instance, is a good place to start. Other fermented foods, like kombucha, kefir, and kimchi, also have probiotics. Pickles, sourdough, and some cheeses can also be good choices. 

If you want to know more about your need for probiotics, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about it. Based on the results of your prenatal checkups, they might ask you to consume more probiotic-rich foods or prescribe you supplements. 

Learn more about Being Pregnant here.