Fish oil pills come in capsules and are a form of supplement. They can provide the benefits of fish oil without the harmful effects of mercury, which is found in some fish and can harm your baby's brain development. If you want to take fish oil supplements during pregnancy, it is important to understand how much is safe and which type of fish oil is best for you.
Benefits
Fish and fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are not made by the human body and are beneficial for baby brain development. The American Pregnancy Association states that omega-3 fatty acids are essential for neurological and early visual development of a baby. It is common to become depleted in omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy because your baby uses its storage from your body for nervous system development.
Amount
You and your unborn baby can also benefit from between 200 and 300 mg of omega-3 fatty acids a day, which you can get from fortified dairy products, walnuts and walnut oil in addition to fish and fish oil supplements. During pregnancy, you can have 3 g of fish oil supplements a day, so be sure to try and include omega-3 fatty acids from other sources.
Safety
According to MedlinePlus, taking fish oil supplements is likely safe for pregnant women, as long as they are taken in low doses. You can take fish oil supplements as long as you do not exceed 3 g a day or the amount recommended by your doctor.
Considerations
MayoClinic.com states that fish oil supplements are not uniformly tested for the presence of mercury. Ask your doctor before taking any fish oil supplements during pregnancy to make sure that your supplement is mercury-free and safe to use.
Warnings
If you include fish sources in your diet as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, stick to 12 oz. a week of low mercury fish such as shrimp, salmon, catfish and tilapia. This will help reduce your intake of mercury. Avoid tilefish, mackerel, shark and other large predatory fish because they are typically high in mercury.
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