Cod liver oil contains vitamin D, vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids, substances that might help promote fetal growth and brain development. Scientific research continues to look into the risks and benefits of cod liver oil supplements during pregnancy. A healthy diet provides you with enough omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D and vitamin A to eliminate your need for a cod liver oil supplement. Consult your doctor prior to using cod liver oil during pregnancy.
Pregnancy and Labor Benefits
Cod liver oil might improve the development of your unborn child. A dose of 2 tsp. taken every day from the 18th week of pregnancy through the first three months of your baby's life might raise her IQ, according to a study published in the January 2003 issue of "Pediatrics." Cod liver oil taken during pregnancy also might decrease your baby's risk of developing type 1 diabetes during childhood, reports the authors of a study published in the September 2000 issue of "Diabetologica." The omega-3 content of cod liver oil might decrease your chances of premature delivery and increase the birth weight of your baby, which decreases your baby's risk of disease as she ages, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Concerns
Cod live oil supplements contain high levels of vitamin A. Each teaspoon of cod liver oil often contains 4,500 IU of vitamin A, explains the UC Berkeley Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements. If you take a multivitamin or consume other foods high in vitamin A, you could consume enough vitamin A to place your unborn child at risk for birth defects or bone fractures early in life. Discuss the pros and cons of taking a cod liver supplement during pregnancy with your physician and do not take more cod liver oil than your physician determines is safe.
Misconception
Dr. Abaz Sosic, an obstetrician at Bradford Regional Medical Center in Pennsylvania, states that women often take a large dose of cod liver oil in hopes of inducing labor, but he has never seen a women go into labor as a result of taking cod liver oil. If anything, it prolonged the pregnancy, he says. Sosic also warns that some women confuse cod liver oil with caster oil, which might promote labor by emptying the bowels; however, this practice is dangerous because it can cause dehydration from the excessive diarrhea produced by caster oil.
Alternatives
The Baby Centre advises consuming fatty fish or taking a fish oil supplement made from the body of the fish instead of taking cod liver oil, because they contain the same omega-3 fatty acids as cod liver oil, including DHA. Fish containing the highest amounts of omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel, salmon, fresh tuna, trout, herring, pilchards, kippers, sardines and anchovies. Do not consume more than two servings of fish each week, because fish can contain heavy metals that might interfere with your baby's development. Consider taking a multivitamin or changing your diet to get the vitamins A and D contained in cod liver oil.
References
- Dr. Abaz Sosic M.D. OB/GYN; Bradford Regional Medical Center; Bradford, Pennsylvania
- "Pediatrics"; Maternal Supplementation With Very-Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy and Lactation Augments Children's IQ at 4 Years of Age; Ingrid B. Helland, M.D.; January 2003
- "Diabetologica"; Use of Cod Liver Oil During Pregnancy Associated With Lower Risk of Type I Diabetes in the Offspring; L. C. Stene; September 2000
- American Pregnancy Association; Preconception Supplementation for Women---Three Key Nutrients to Support a Healthy Pregnancy and Fetal Development; Tori Hudson, N.D.; December 2009
- UC Berkeley Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements: Cod Liver Oil
- Baby Centre; Is It Safe to Take Fish Oil supplements During Pregnancy?; Sarah Schenker; November 2010
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