Fish Oil During Pregnancy
If you are expecting a baby, congratulations!
Now you are thinking about the important dietary decisions you will have to make to give your little one the best possible start in life.
Your healthcare provider has probably advised you on a healthy diet that includes essential pre-natal nutrients like calcium and folic acid. But another one that is often overlooked is DHA.
You have possibly heard about this and that is why you are here. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in various foods but the richest natural source is the right type of oily fish.
Why is DHA important to your baby?
DHA is a major component of our brain and central nervous system. We need to consume it regularly to maintain them in tip top condition. The link between eating fish and intelligence might not be just an old wives tale.
It also plays an important role in fetal brain development, particularly in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy. Unfortunately, the levels of DHA in your bloodstream tend to decline during this vital period.
Increasing your consumption of fish or supplementing DHA can slow this decline and ensure that your baby’s needs are met. This has been associated with improved central nervous system maturity
Other benefits include
- Higher probability of going to full term
- Promotes a healthy birth weight
- Promotes early hand eye co-ordination
- Reduced allergy risk
Of course, increasing your intake of omega-3 is good for you too, especially at this happy but demanding time in your life. This all sounds very good but there is a downside.
Fish and pollution
You may have heard of the concern about our oceans being contaminated with heavy metals, PCBs and other toxins. These can find their way into the fish that we consume.
Does this risk outweigh the possible benefit of eating more fish, particularly for your growing baby? This is a certainly a concern. So what about taking a supplement instead.
That is an option, provided that you can be assured of the quality and purity of the product. When it comes to choosing the best fish oil to take during pregnancy, there are several factors to consider.
The recommended dosage should give you the right proportions of DHA and EPA. The product should be fresh and free of any unpleasant odour.
It should be in a natural state, meaning that the desired ingredients are highly bio-available. This means that they are easy for the body to process.
Safety of supplements
Of course, when it comes to fish oil during pregnancy, the most important consideration is safety. You will need reassurance that your chosen supplement is of the utmost purity.
The recent California lawsuit was based on the fact that manufacturers failed to disclose the levels of contamination in their fish oil.
Your chosen supplement should satisfy all these criteria. The manufacturer needs to be totally transparent about the source of its raw materials, its processes and quality assurance procedures.
This information should be freely available and independently verified. That is what you and your child deserve.
As always, it makes good sense to check with your healthcare provider that what you are planning to take is both safe and effective, taking account of your own unique circumstances.
That way, you can be confident that you are doing everything in your power to give your baby the best chance of a healthy start.
If you would like to know more about choosing the safest and purest Omega-3 fish oil supplements, go to this page.
Once your baby is born, you will want to get back into shape in the safest way possible.
