Hello, I'm 18 weeks pregnant with my first baby. My husband has both asthma and eczema and I've heard a rumour that taking probiotics when pregnant can help to prevent these problems being passed on to my baby. Should I take probiotics, are they safe?

Probiotics have been studied to see whether, if taken by women in pregnancy, they reduce the numbers of babies with allergy-related diseases, like asthma and eczema. Although lots of studies have been published, reporting a significant reduction in some allergic diseases, there is not enough conclusive evidence.

However, it is looking hopeful as a recent systematic review (where they combine results from all the research studies) found that probiotics taken during pregnancy may have a role in preventing atopic dermatitis in infants. The review however, failed to find any evidence for the use of probiotics in improving the condition when taken by infants.

Taking probiotics is considered safe during pregnancy, and while there is no conclusive evidence that probiotics do reduce the risk of eczema or asthma in children, on balance I would say they are worth a try. Don't forget though that exclusive breastfeeding will also reduce the risk of allergies in children.