Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Taking Fish Oil In Pregnancy. Is It A Good Idea Or Not?

By Peter Bertonach

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 are a number of questions in this. Firstly is it safe to take fish oil in pregnancy? Yes it is. There are no documented risks to taking fish oil pregnancy for a normal healthy mother.

And secondly, are there benefits to either the mother or the baby, or both, of taking Omega 3 during pregnancy?

There have been a wide range of benefits that are shown to apply to health adults, and unhealthy adults, from taking fish oil supplements. So any pregnant woman should expect to see the same benefits. More on this below though.

But equally importantly what benefits are there to the fetus or the baby, later, from the mother taking fish oil supplements during pregnancy?

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. Improvements in visual acuity. Improvement in the ability to concentrate. A beneficial, or preventative effect for ADHD. Better sleep patterns in infancy.

and more.

And there are also studies that low levels of DHA during pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of need for a 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. Reduced risk of breast cancer. Lower risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Reduced risk of a cesarean birth.

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.

To find out more about Omega 3 during pregnancy, or how to compare Omega 3 capsules, visit my website.

About the Author:

No comments: