Taking Fish Oil While Pregnant

Fish oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and eicosapentaenoic acid. Fish oil which regulates the level of cholesterol in the body, offers numerous other health benefits. Fish oils with omega 3 have become extremely popular over the past few years because of the terrific benefits it offers. Omega 3 fatty acids belong to the unsaturated fatty acids family which are found in fish, plants and seeds. Fish oil is the best source of omega 3. It is called 'an essential oil' because your body can not produce omega 3 on its own and you have to get it from the food you eat. Most pregnant women are confused about the safety of omega 3 fish oil. They think that taking fish oil while pregnant may result in mercury contamination which can increase the risk of premature births. According to the available statistics, the actual incidence of mercury contamination and premature birth associated with fish oil consumption is very low.

Oily fish like mackerel, sardines, trout, herring and salmon are packed with omega 3 fatty acids. But only 40% of mothers and expecting mothers are aware of the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids, during and after pregnancy. As many as 85% of expecting mothers are deficient in these important fats. In fact, it is observed that only 4% of pregnant women get the right amounts of EPA and DHA, either through diet or supplements. EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA, docosahexaaenoic acid, are the active constituents of fish oil. These constituents contribute to the structure and function of a healthy brain and nervous system. Babies need a lot of DHA in first 2 years of life. DHA contributes about 8% of the weight of the brain of the baby! DHA plays an important role in the actual structure of the growing brain while EPA plays an important role in the functioning of the brain and nervous system.

Benefits of Taking Fish Oil during Pregnancy

• The main fish oil benefit is that the brain and the nervous system of the fetus grow optimally.
• The oil has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce the chronic pain symptoms caused due to inflammatory responses.
• The other benefits of this oil are: healthy joints, long term cognitive function, healthy eyes, hair and skin for the baby.
• Fish oil during pregnancy helps lower the blood pressure. In normal cases too, the oil helps reduce the risks of primary and secondary heart attacks.
• Studies show that children whose mothers had taken fish oil when they were pregnant, have good comprehension skills. The average phrase length and vocabulary is also excellent as compared to other children.
• Insufficient intake of EPA and DHA by a pregnant woman can make her lose as much as 3% of her own brain mass in the last trimester of pregnancy, as the EPA and DHA stored in her own brain will be transferred to her baby.
• Intake of fish oil or consumption of the supplements during pregnancy can help avoid depression and anxiety. In fact insufficient intake of omega 3 fatty acids can cause depression.
• Babies who have higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids in their cord blood, are found to have better hand and eye coordination. It is observed that the infants in the womb who enjoy adequate levels of Omega 3, show better overall development and they also show better attention spans and better visual acuity than those babies whose mothers had lower Omega 3 levels.
• Omega 3 helps lower triglycerides which otherwise can lead to cardiovascular diseases. Some studies have shown that the Eskimos of Greenland, whose diet consists of about a pound of fish each day, have one of the lowest rates of coronary heart disease. Omega 3 essential fatty acids make the blood platelets less sticky and protect the artery linings from clogging.
• Taking fish oil helps improve heart health as it converts the bad cholesterol into good cholesterol. Researches have proved that a diet rich in salmon oil if followed for 20 days, can increase the HDL (good cholesterol) by 10%. The oil enhances blood circulation, leading to the breaking down of the fibrin which is actually a compound responsible for clotting and scar formation.

Pregnant women may consult the doctor before taking fish oil. Generally 250 milligrams of omega 3 per day is recommended for pregnant women, especially in final trimester. Low intake of omega 3 fatty acids can be harmful for the baby and the mother, both. Fish oil offers long term benefits.