Is It A Good Idea To Take Fish Oil In Pregnancy?
There is now pretty much evidence of the health benefits of Omega 3 polyunsaturated fish oil. But what about when you're pregnant. Should you take fish oil in pregnancy?
There's a few questions here. Firstly is fish oil safe to take in pregnancy? Absolutely. There are no documented risks to taking fish oil capsules during pregnancy, for the normal healthy mother.
And the second question is, what are the health benefits to both the mother and the baby of taking fish oil in pregnancy?
Studies have shown a wide range of benefits to healthy (and unhealthy) adults from taking more Omega 3 fats. The same benefits should apply to any pregnant woman. And more, see below.
But what about the benefits of fish oil during pregnancy to the fetus and infant?
Well studies have shown quite a wide range of benefits. About 95% of adults in the US are deficient in DHA, the most important of the Omega 3 fatty acids. You get DHA from fish oil.
The brain is made up of a high percentage of fat, and the most common fat in the brain is DHA. It is essential for good brain development. The fetal brain develops most during the third trimester of pregnancy, and during this time has a high demand for EFAs, or essential fatty acids. If there is a deficiency there are possible implications for brain development and later performance.
There are studies that show that taking fish oil in pregnancy can boost the supply of DHA to the fetal brain and this can have the following benefits:
Improved brain function. Increased ability to concentrate as a child. Improvements in hand/eye coordination. Improvement in the ability to concentrate. Better sleep patterns in infancy. A beneficial, or preventative effect for ADHD. Improvements in visual acuity.
and much more.
And some studies even show that low levels of DHA in pregnancy can lead to a higher risk of cesarean.
That's a pretty impressive list. Lets look at the benefits of taking fish oil capsules during pregnancy to the mother again.
Lower risk of postpartum depression. Lower risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Reduced risk of a cesarean birth. Reduced risk of breast cancer.
Convinced to take fish oil supplements during your pregnancy yet? Remember, around 95% of the population are deficient in Omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil, and that doesn't change when you're pregnant, unless you make it change.
Should you get your Omega 3 fats from eating fish? No problem, as long as you don't eat a lot. There are plenty of government warnings about eating fish due to mercury contamination. So how do you get your good healthy Omega 3 fats in pregnancy? Take Omega 3 capsules. The best ones aren't contaminated by mercury. But not all Omega 3 capsules are the same.
If you want to find out how to compare the different Omega 3 capsules, or more about Omega 3 in pregnancy, visit my website.
Want to know more about Fish Oil Benefits? Or more about taking Fish Oil During Pregnancy? Visit Peter's Website Healthy Omega 3 Fish Oil.