Fish Oil While Pregnant

Pregnancy is a time when it is essential to scrutinize everything you eat. Including the most nutritious foods in your diet will promote healthy development of your baby. Prenatal vitamins are generally prescribed to ensure all vitamin and mineral needs are met. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors will also occasionally recommend a fish oil supplement. Under the guidance of your physician, fish oil can be beneficial to a developing fetus.

Identification

Fish oil is obtained in the diet generally by eating fish, but during pregnancy, women are advised to limit their intake of certain types of fish to avoid excessive intake of mercury. The March of Dimes says pregnant women can safely consume 12 oz. per week of fish known to be low in mercury. Salmon, a type of low-mercury fish, is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are one of the most well known types of healthy fish oils.

Other Sources

Fish oil capsules may be a convenient way of consuming fish oil if you do not like fish or can't consume adequate amounts. However, the Mayo Clinic says you must "keep in mind that fish oil supplements aren't uniformly tested for the presence of mercury." Mercury may cause birth defects in the growing fetus. The National Institutes of Health's (NIH) concern with fish oil supplements is the risk of pesticides in unrefined fish oil capsules.

Benefits

According to research published in December 2006 by the Archives of Disease in Childhood, children of women who consumed fish oil consistently late in their pregnancy had better hand-eye coordination than children whose mothers consumed other oils. These children also performed better on tests of reading comprehension, average phrase length and vocabulary.

Considerations

It is important to consume fish oil during pregnancy for optimal fetal nutrition. Because many women avoid fish during pregnancy due to concerns about mercury intake, their babies may be missing out on the important benefits of this nutrient. The Mayo Clinic reports that women who did not consume adequate amounts of fish oil "were more likely to have children with verbal or other communication problems at age 3, and behavioral problems and trouble with fine motor skills by ages 7 and 8." Also, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition published research stating that inadequate intake in the third trimester led to low birth-weight babies.

Recommendations

Pregnant and lactating women should not eat fish that is raw or undercooked, such as sushi. Raw fish may contain harmful bacteria and viruses. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fish can be safely consumed while pregnant or breastfeeding if the mercury content is not too high. It is recommended that a nursing mother follow the same guidelines as those used while pregnant.