Fish oil supplements are rich in useful omega-3 fatty acids. Often fish oil pills mix omega-3 fatty acids with other nutrients, such as vitamins, calcium and iron. Fish oil pills are made from mackerel, tuna, salmon or whale blubber, and contain vitamin E to help prevent spoiling, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Fish oil has numerous effects on your body, both beneficial and adverse. Fish oil pills can also affect pregnant women, so understand the potential effects of fish oil on your pregnancy before taking the supplement.
Growth of the Fetus
Western diets are often deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. Yet omega-3 acids are essential for the development of a baby's eyes and brain, the American Pregnancy Association reports. Fish oil, as a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, can help provide you with enough nutrients to ensure that your growing child will develop normally. If you take fish oil pills, your child may also have a better birth weight. Mothers with previous pregnancies have a higher risk of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency; their doctors may recommend they take fish oil pills.
Prevent Miscarriage
Fish oil pills can help prevent the incidence of miscarriages, MedlinePlus notes. The high content of omega-3 fatty acids is the most probable reason for this effect of fish oil on pregnancy.
Benefits for the Mother
The pregnant mother may also benefit from fish oil supplements. Increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids have proven effective in lowering the risk of pre-term labor and preventing a pregnancy-induced increase in blood pressure, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The American Pregnancy Association also states that you may experience less pregnancy-associated depression if you take fish oil supplements to combat omega-3 fatty acid deficiency associated with pregnancy.
Increased Risk of Bleeding
Fish oil can increase your risk of bleeding if you take it while you are pregnant. High doses of omega-3 fatty acids can cause excessive bleeding in pregnant women, MayoClinic.com reports. This typically only occurs if you take large amounts of fish oil. Therefore, no more than 3 g of fish oil per day is recommended.
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