Microbiome during Pregnancy

Omry Koren describes microbiota changes during pregnancy. Microbiome composition alters in response to environment, diet, weight, hormones, and other factors. Unsurprisingly, pregnancy causes significant changes in the microbiome, as dramatic weight gain, metabolic and immunological changes occur. In general, pregnancy is characterized by an increase in the bacterial load and profound alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota. These dramatic changes are characterized by reduced individual richness, increased between-subject diversity, and alterations in abundance of certain species.