Fish Oil and a Healthy Pregnancy: What A Mom Needs to Know

Can Omega 3 Fish Oil play an important role?

According to recent studies, fish intake in ones diet has many beneficial qualities. It stands to reason then, that pregnant woman who make Omega 3 part of their diet during pregnancy can pass on these same benefits to their coming bundle of joy. Several types of fish including Tilapia, Salmon, and Cod are recommended according to Dr. Roger Harms of the Mayo Clinic.

What makes Fish Oil so important to good health?

The fatty acids found in fish, particularly cold water fish, are especially helpful to a whole host of health related issues. EPA and DHA are the two most powerful sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids have clinically been proven to help fight poor cholesterol, maintain healthy blood pressure, and provide anti-inflammatory benefits to the organs of the human body.

Benefits during pregnancy for Mom

Omega 3 Fatty acids that offer early developmental benefits for the baby include vision development for the fetus. Development of the brain during pregnancy is augmented by EPA or eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA, known as Docosahexaenoic acid which contributes to protecting the cognitive abilities from pre-birth right through the adult years. These same fatty acids are clinically proven to deter or delay the onset of Alzheimer's later in life.

Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency can be harmful during pregnancy

Low levels of Omega 3 fatty acids have been linked to miscarriage, and low birth weight. During pregnancy, the fetus takes a large percentage of Omega 3 from their moms system. Normal ingestion of foods that contain Omega 3 may not be enough during pregnancy. This deficiency has also been shown to cause post natal depression in mothers. High doses of Omega three fish oil are often prescribed in the treatment of depression in adults, and can alleviate this potential during and after pregnancy. Low levels of fatty acids have also been linked to gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes occurs when insulin produced from the mother's pancreas is blocked by the placenta that protects and supports the baby while it grows. Insulin is the hormone created by the pancreas of the mother to regulate blood sugar levels for both mother and baby during pregnancy. During a pregnancy, the mother's pancreas is often effectively in overdrive creating this insulin. If enough insulin isn't manufactured by the pancreas, late in the pregnancy, the glucose levels in mother and child may be dangerously high, a condition called hyperglycemia. This can lead to health problems for both mother and child. One side effect is the baby being born with an increased tendency toward obesity later in life.