Pregnant moms are very careful in their intake of food and supplements because it may harm their baby inside the womb. Some moms are wondering if it is safe to intake fish oil during pregnancy? Let us find out in this article.
Fish oil has two types. One is safe for pregnant women while the other is not. Supplements that are made from the flesh of the fish called the omega-3 supplements are the kind of supplement that is safe for pregnant women. However, supplements from the liver of the fish are not safe for pregnant women. It is important though, that pregnant women check the labels that nothing is added in the omega-3 supplement.
Both the two types of fish oil supplements contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids that help the baby’s eyes and brain to develop. It also protects moms against heart diseases. But the other supplement which is the cod liver oil contains high levels of retinol. You should not take a high level of this because it can harm your baby. Actually, there are researches that show when mom intake omega-3 fatty acids, their baby weighs a little more and less likely to be born early. But this research needs more study to be carried out.
If pregnant moms eat some oily fish every week, then supplements are not needed. Oily fish can provide plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, other vitamins, and protein. This cannot be usually attained just by taking the supplement. Because of that, pregnant women who eat more fish have fewer cases of premature babies and low birth weight.
The Benefits of Omega-3 in Fish oil
The early visual and neurological development of your baby needs essential nutrients like omega-3. Consuming omega-3 has shown to have a good effect on the visual and cognitive development of babies. It was also shown that it has helped in preventing allergies. It is also needed to make breast milk after birth. Omega-3 fatty acids will prevent pre-term labor and delivery and increase birth weight. The risk of preeclampsia becomes lower. Deficiency in omega-3 was also linked to the risk of mothers having depression after birth. That’s why pregnant women are advised to intake a suitable amount of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to help their pregnancy and after birth.Â
What should I look for when consuming Fish Oil?
If you are looking for oily fish that you can consume, fishes that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, kippers, trout, mackerel, anchovies, herring, sardines, fresh tuna, and whitebait. Other food that contains reasonable to low amounts of omega-3 fats is white fish like haddock and cod, crab, and prawns. Although these kinds of seafood are good for you, one or two portions a week is the recommended amount. Oily fish can also contain environmental pollutants that’s why you still have to limit your intake. If you don’t eat fish, you can take fish oil supplements. Just make sure that it is suitable and safe for pregnant women. If you are not sure what supplement to take, consult your doctor about it.
Safety Considerations
It is important to intake quality fish oil because it is the one safe for pregnant women. Fresh fish can contain environmental toxins that can accumulate during their life span. These toxins can be eliminated during the processing and manufacturing of the fish oi by using high-quality raw materials and an advanced refining procedure. Some fish oil brands have higher quality than others. High-quality fish oil manufacturer should provide documentation of third-party lab results that can show the purity levels of their fish oil.
Fish Oil Recommendations
You can check the quality of your fish oil by doing these simple steps.
- Smell
Research shows that fish oils will smell bad when the oil starts to degrade. A high-quality fish oil supplement does not smell fishy. So it is important that you smell it so you can know if it is high-quality.
- Taste
The fresh and high-quality fish oil supplement should not taste fishy at all. When the fish oil has a very strong artificial flavor in it, it must be because the manufacturers are trying to hide the fishy flavor of the rancid oil. So, it should not have the fishy taste for it to become a high-quality fish oil.
The advice to intake fish oil or fish oil supplements to pregnant women has been stressed to them. There are many pieces of research that show how taking in fish oil during pregnancy has a good effect on the baby’s growth and development even years after being born. Although these researches have not yet been fully carried out yet to be official, there are many suggestions that taking in fish oil supplements is a good idea for pregnant women. To make sure, you can always consult your doctor and ask for advice and suggestions.
There are many more suggestions and advice you can find regarding the use of fish oil. Be sure to double-check the facts and ask for assistance when you need it. We hope that this article helps you to find out how fish oil can be beneficial during pregnancy, what kind of fish oil should you consume and how you can identify a high-quality one. We hope for your healthy and safe pregnancy and may your baby grow and to be strong and healthy with no problems ahead.
Read also:
- What Do I Do With My Leftover Tomatoes?
- Pregnancy Diet: How Safe is it to Eat Apricot During Pregnancy?
- Eating Avocados Essential Guide for Pregnant and Lactating Mothers
