Pregnancy Info HOME

How baby will benefit from Omega 3

Taking Omega 3 during pregnancy has also been proven to help you and your baby out in the long run. Recent studies were performed on infants who were exposed to adequate levels of Omega 3 while in the womb.

These babies showed advanced attention spans and greater visual acuity than non-exposed children. Their development was also two months ahead of non-exposed children.

Other Omega 3 benefits include:

• less chance of developmental or behavioral problems later on
• less incidence of breast and prostate cancer

When To Take Omega 3s

Your are probably wondering when is the best time to begin taking Omega 3 supplements or increase your natural intake of the fatty acid.

Omega 3 is actually something that you should be including in your diet on a regular basis. Even when you are not pregnant, you should aim to get a fair bit of Omega 3 into your body.

During pregnancy, it is recommended that you get at least 250 mg of Omega 3 every day. However, Omega 3 oils are especially important during the final trimester.

It is during this time that your baby uses Omega-3 to form approximately 70% of her brain system. She is also working on the rest of her nervous system.

Good Omega 3 Sources

Omega 3 is best found in fish and fish oil products.

High levels of Omega 3 are found in:

• oily fish, like mackerel, herring, sardines, anchovies, salmon, and pilchards
• Omega 3 fish oil supplements
• fresh or frozen tuna

However, it is important to keep in mind that fish can be contaminated with mercury and PCBs, so make sure that you choose safe types of fish.

Omega 3 can also be found in non-aquatic sources. Good choices include:

• fortified foods, like eggs, bread, and juice
• dark green vegetables
• canola, sunflower, and flaxseed oils
• walnuts

Omega-3 supplements are available but check to make sure that your supplements are not made from fish livers. The liver can contain high amounts of retinol vitamin A, which has been linked to birth defects.

Omega-3 supplements not derived from fish livers but rather from the body of the fish are less likely to contain this type of vitamin A. If you would prefer to err on the side of caution, you can always look for supplements that are made specifically for pregnant women.

Need some advice on your pregnancy diet? Visit our forum to talk with other moms-to-be