When you first learn you're pregnant, usually, you're excited about the new life growing inside. But, quickly that joy can be replaced by concerns-even fears. You wonder about your baby's health and how you can make it the best possible.
And, you must choose foods, especially fish, carefully because too much or the wrong type may harm your baby. But, are you missing the benefits of fish oil for your baby's health because of fish safety fears?
Well, you don't have to. With omega-3 fatty acid supplements, you can get the benefits of fish oil. And, the right, high-quality supplements can have real benefits for your baby's health. The most important fatty acid in fish oil supplements is
DHA (or docosahexanoic acid).
Why is
DHA important for fetal health? It's important because studies show DHA helps build your unborn baby's brain, nervous system and eyes. Adults can get
DHA from foods like eggs, milk and fish and that can still be the best way when you're pregnant.
But, what if you have allergies to eggs or milk or don't like those foods? And what if you can eat fish but want to avoid getting too much mercury or the other dangers of fish during pregnancy? Then, the best way for your unborn baby to get
DHA may be through fish oil pills.
There are several important benefits of fish oil supplements during pregnancy. One is higher birth weights in babies whose mothers take it. In fact, studies show a high correlation between getting enough
DHA from omega-3 sources like high-quality fish oil pills and a baby's head circumference and weight at birth.
Moreover, other studies show that, in some cases, getting enough
DHA during pregnancy can reduce the likelihood of repeat premature births.
Another advantage of
DHA supplementation during pregnancy is related to baby brain development. Research showed that two-year-olds whose mothers consumed fish oil with high amounts of
DHA during pregnancy had higher hand-eye coordination test scores.
Additional studies found that older children had benefited that pregnancy
DHA intake with higher IQ, verbal intelligence, communication and social skill development scores. They also had better attention spans.
In visual development, some studies, also seemed to be better in babies whose mother's
DHA intake was strong during their second and third trimester of pregnancy. And, other research showed that babies whose mothers got high enough amounts of
DHA during pregnancy got fewer colds.
While nothing guarantees any of these outcomes, if you're pregnant, you may be able to enhance your baby's health by taking fish oil pills.
But, you can't just take any fatty acid supplements you can find and you don't cheap out on your own or your baby's health during pregnancy when you buy them. Getting the benefits of fish oil during pregnancy without worrying about fish safety is possible if you choose right product. For one thing, your fish oil supplements need to contain the highest amount of
DHA available.
For another, to be safe for you to take during pregnancy, your omega-3 fatty acid supplements also must have negligible amounts of toxins like the mercury you're trying to avoid from fish. Moreover, to be certain you and your unborn child get all the benefits of fish oil, they should contain the purest fish oil from the best places on earth.
And, in order to prevent stomach upset, among other things, your supplements should be as fresh as possible.
You have to make many choices about nutrition and maternal health during pregnancy if you want the best outcome from your pregnancy. Choosing a fish oil supplement to ensure high-quality, high dose
DHA intake is one of the most important ones you'll make. Pick your supplements carefully and you may be able to improve your baby's overall health at birth and later in childhood.
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