Fish can be a great source of protein, vitamins and omega-3 nutrients, but pregnant women need to eat fish and other seafood with caution. The mercury in certain types of fish might affect the brain development and nervous system of the unborn baby, notes the American Pregnancy Association. Pregnant women should consult their doctor with specific questions about the safety of eating fish during pregnancy.
FDA Guidelines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration developed a set of safety guidelines for women who would like to eat seafood during their pregnancies. These guidelines recommend that pregnant women completely avoid seafood with the highest levels of mercury, and eat a maximum of three 6-oz. servings a month of seafood containing high levels of mercury. The FDA guidelines also state that pregnant women can safely eat up to six 6-oz. servings a month of seafood contain lower amounts of mercury, and up to two 6-oz. servings a week of seafood with the lowest mercury levels.
Fish to Avoid
Pregnant women should completely avoid eating fish containing the highest levels of mercury. This includes swordfish, tilefish, marlin, grouper, orange roughy, shark and mackerel.
Fish to Eat in Moderation
Halibut, sea trout, blue fish, bass saltwater, croaker and lobster have high levels of mercury. Women who are pregnant should not eat more than three 6-oz. servings of these types of fish each month. Carp, crab, snapper, herring, monkfish, cod, skate, mahi mahi and freshwater perch generally contain lower amounts of mercury. Pregnant women should eat no more than six 6-oz servings of these types of fish each month. Salmon, shrimp, oysters, sardines, anchovies, calamari, king crab, polloc, whitefish, catfish, herring, spiny or rock lobster, sole, tilapia, crawfish, crayfish, hake, farmed sturgeon and freshwater trout generally have the lowest levels of mercury and can be eaten more frequently. However, pregnant women should still only eat a maximum of two 6-oz servings of fish with the lowest amounts of mercury per week.
Considerations
The mercury levels in tuna can vary depending on the type of tuna and where the tuna was caught. Fresh bluefin or ahi tuna generally have higher mercury levels than canned tuna, chunk light tuna or fresh Pacific albacore tuna. If a pregnant woman is unsure of the type of tuna, she should use caution and follow the guidelines for the high mercury fish, which state to limit intake to no more than three 6-oz. servings per month
Misconceptions
Some women decide to forgo all seafood while they are pregnant for safety concerns, but this can be a mistake. Not eating any seafood during pregnancy might contribute to the child having behavioral problems, poor verbal skills and other developmental issues, according to Roger Harms, M.D., a pregnancy specialist at the Mayo Clinic and editor-in-chief of MayoClinic.com. As long as pregnant women follow the FDA recommended guidelines and avoid fish containing the highest levels of mercury, they should feel comfortable eating fish as a regular part of their pregnancy diets.
