Fish Oil During Pregnancy

Last menstrual period date:

Why It’s Important for Mums to Have Fish Oil during Pregnancy

Fish oil is highly important for our well-being. It is also important for pregnant mothers and their babies. In this article we will discuss the importance of fish oil during pregnancy.

Consumption of fish oil while pregnant

According to some researches, usage of fish oil during pregnancy improves babies’ brain development and their hand-eye coordination. This was also confirmed by the study conducted at the University of Western Australia. The study included 98 pregnant women who didn’t have any medical difficulties. The participants of this research were divided into two groups. One group received 4 grams of olive oil supplements and the other group received 4 grams of fish oil supplements. All participants received their supplements daily from the 20^th week of their pregnancy week by week until their delivery.

The researchers tested toddlers’ hand-eye coordination, language and other skills when they were 2 ½ years old. The results of these tests revealed that children born by mothers who received fish oil during their pregnancy had higher scores on hand-eye coordination tests than children of mothers who received olive oil supplements. It must be noted that results were the same regardless of the age of the mothers, duration of breastfeeding etc.

Additionally, researchers discovered that great amount of Omega 3 fatty acids in cord blood samples which were taken at birth was also linked with the improved hand-eye coordination.

However, language skills and toddlers’ growth didn’t show any differences between children born to mothers who took fish or olive oil supplements. According to researchers, taking fish oil supplements is beneficial for the neurological development of the baby. This is because Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for the proper function of our entire organism.

Omega 3 fatty acids benefits

Our body needs Omega 3 fatty acids because it is unable to produce it by itself. The biggest source of these fatty acids is fish oil. Some of the health benefits of high level of Omega 3 fatty acids in the body include:

Lowers the triglycerides levels.
Relieve joint pains
Fights depression
Baby’s neurological development (as mentioned above)
Helps with asthma
Reduces symptoms of ADHD
Protects against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Omega 3 fatty acids are also effective for dry eyes and psoriasis.

Also, women usually take fish oil supplements to prevent painful menstruation cycle, breast pain and complications linked with complicated pregnancy, high blood pressure during the pregnancy, early delivery and miscarriage.

Top Health Benefits of Omega 3 You Should Not Miss:

Does fish oil really prevent miscarriage?

Scientists from Western Australia discovered that regular consumption of fish oil improves the level of resolvins in the placenta. Resolvins are consisted of Omega 3 fatty acids and they fight inflammations.

Approximately one third of pregnant women suffer from inflammations during their pregnancy. This means that fish oil converted into the resolvins by the placenta. These resolvins, then, stop inflammations in placenta.

Scientists revealed that fish oil is beneficial for the baby as well as their mothers because they improve the functioning of the placenta which reduces the risk of miscarriage.

Isn’t it unsafe to eat fish during pregnancy and can I take supplements instead?

Many women are concerned about the mercury that can be found in fish which made fish oil supplements highly popular. You can definitely take fish oil supplements it is usually recommended to take 5.1 grams, but before you do consult your doctor about the dosage.

You can get Omega 3 fatty acids right from the fish during your pregnancy as well. High level or mercury is usually found in swordfish, shark, tilefish, or king mackerel and other large fish. However, FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) reveals that pregnant women can eat about 12 oz of seafood per week. Fish that are low in mercury levels and have high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids are:

Pacific and Atlantic mackerel
Salmon
Trout
Anchovies
Sardines
Herring.

Also, you can eat catfish, shrimp and Pollock. Naturally, it is always best to avoid canned fish and go for the “real thing”.

Conclusion

Fish oil is of extreme importance to both mothers and babies. High levels of Omega 3 fatty acids in pregnancy week by week improves the functioning of placenta, prevents various pregnancy complications, and improves brain development of babies.

Reference:

https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/

http://anti-mainstream.com/consumer-health-digest-pregnancy-week-by-week-video-series/

http://www.lifescienceglobal.com/blog/consume-omega-3-during-pregnancy.html

About the Author:

Katleen Brown is a health, beauty and fitness writer. She is a long-time native from Ashburn, Virginia, USA, who loves to publish her articles on various health related websites. In her spare time, she like to do research and write articles to bring awareness to the most recent health & beauty problems, and innovative remedies that can help save the lives of people while bringing down the costs of health care. She loves to be the world’s leading authority in the field of health and wellness by providing wellness information. Recognizing the unity of body, mind, and outlook, she helps empower women to tune into their innate & inner wisdom to transform their health and truly flourish. Get in touch with her on Pinterest and Twitter.