Fish Oil During Pregnancy
If you are expecting a new arrival, congratulations!
You will naturally want to give your little one the best possible start in life.
You have probably discussed dietary requirements with your healthcare provider including essential pre-natal nutrients like calcium and folic acid. But did you also talk about DHA.
Perhaps you did and that is why you are here. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in several foods but the most plentiful natural source is oily fish of the right kind.
Why is DHA important to your baby?
There are many reasons to consider taking fish oil during pregnancy. DHA is a major component of our central nervous system.
We need to consume it regularly, since we don’t produce it, 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, especially in the last trimester. Unfortunately, just when you need more DHA in your bloodstream,there is a tendency for the level to decline.
Increasing your consumption of fish for pregnancy or supplementing DHA can reduce this decline and help to meet your baby’s needs. This has been linked to improved central nervous system maturity at birth.
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, boosting your consumption of omega-3 is good for you too, especially at this demanding time in your life. If this is all so good, why would you consider not doing it?
Fish and pollution
You have probably heard that our oceans are becoming contaminated with heavy metals, PCBs and other toxins. These can build up in the flesh of the fish that we consume.
This is a certainly a concern. How does this risk compare to the possible benefit of eating more fish, particularly for your growing baby? If you can’t be sure of the fish you are eating, what about a supplement instead.
If you can be assured of the quality and purity of the product it is an option. When it comes to fish oil for pregnancy, you need to know which factors to consider.
The recommended dosage should give you the right proportions of DHA and EPA. The product should be free of any unpleasant odour. This is a sign that it is not fresh.
It should be in a natural state. Some processing methods make it more difficult for your body to absorb and use the desired ingredients.
Safety of supplements
Of course the most important consideration is safety, when it comes to fish oil during pregnancy. How can you be sure that your chosen supplement is of the utmost purity and free of contamination.
The lawsuit in California was due to the fact that manufacturers did not disclose the levels of contamination in their fish oil.
For your peace of mind, you need a supplement that can satisfy all these criteria. The company has 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.
You might like to read my review of Xtend life, the supplement I personally take and am happy to recommend.
Or here is free guide to buying fish oil. It offers a much more thorough explanation of what you should be looking for in a fish oil supplement than I can.
You can see why I choose it for myself and believe that it is the safest choice for you and your baby.
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After your baby is born, get back in shape safely and without dieting
