Fish oil in pregnancy - benefits for the woman's body and the baby

Fish oil is very useful during pregnancy, as it strengthens the woman’s body, weakened by pregnancy, improves the course of the pregnancy itself and the development of the fetus.

Fish oil can be recommended by a doctor to almost all pregnant women in the absence of contraindications. Pregnant women who are especially recommended to take fish oil:

• for those who have little or no seafood in their diet,
• in case of suspected intrauterine growth retardation of the fetus,
• habitual miscarriage,
• increased risk of late toxicosis and premature birth.

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Benefits of Fish Oil During Pregnancy

The benefits of fish oil during pregnancy are great, due to its omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D and A, microelements (iodine, calcium, iron, bromine, selenium), antioxidants, which have a pronounced positive effect on the body of a pregnant woman, on the fetus, and also on the course of the entire pregnancy.

Benefits of fish oil for the body of a pregnant woman:

• increases immunity,
• improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system,
• normalizes the functioning of the higher nervous system,
• reduces cholesterol levels,
• suppresses inflammatory phenomena, especially in the placenta (due to an increase in anti-inflammatory lipids in it),
• improves the condition of mucous membranes, skin, hair and nails,
• reduces the symptoms of toxicosis (reduces nausea),
• has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional state of a woman, due to the increased production of serotonin (the hormone of happiness).

Benefits of fish oil for the fetus:

• contributes to the improvement of intrauterine nutrition of the fetus by improving blood flow in the placenta,
• increases the weight of the newborn,
• reduces the risk of allergies in newborns,
• an essential component of the normal formation and development of the nervous activity of the fetus and the organs of vision, due to the content of retinol ( vitamin A ) in fish oil,
• ensures the correct formation and growth of the skeletal system due to the vitamin D it contains, which can also be a preventative measure against rickets in the future.
• has a positive effect on the child's mental development,
• helps reduce the risk of developing diabetes in a child born to a mother who suffered from it during pregnancy.

The effect of fish oil on pregnancy:

• reduces the risk of premature birth,
• helps reduce the risk of preeclampsia (late toxicosis),
• improves placental function and uteroplacental circulation.

Using fish oil in the postpartum period:

• improves breast milk production,
• reduces the risk of developing depression after childbirth.

The use of fish oil during pregnancy is even more useful than eating seafood, which contains omega-3 fatty acids in sufficient quantities. This is due to the fact that they may contain toxic substances (for example, mercury), which are not contained in medicinal forms of fish oil (liquid, capsules), which is therefore safer for a pregnant woman.

It is also important to remember the conditions in which fish oil should not be consumed during pregnancy:

1. Thyroid diseases.
2. Kidney diseases – urolithiasis (urolithiasis), chronic form of kidney failure.
3. Pulmonary tuberculosis (its active form).
4. Be careful when using fish oil together with vitamin complexes, especially D and A, to avoid their excess (hypervitaminosis), which is even worse than a deficiency.

Before taking fish oil during pregnancy, you should consult with the doctor (obstetrician-gynecologist, therapist) who is monitoring the pregnant woman and, if necessary, undergo additional examination methods.

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Fish oil dosage during pregnancy

The dosage of fish oil during pregnancy is three hundred milligrams per day, it can be taken both in capsules and in liquid form. It should be taken in short courses, because the vitamins it contains can accumulate. The course will be determined by the doctor, usually it is from one to three months. You should not take fish oil on an empty stomach, because it can provoke or increase nausea. Fish oil during pregnancy is preferably taken simultaneously with vitamin E, because it improves the absorption of fish oil. In order to prevent undesirable consequences, you should not exceed the recommended dosage.

Fish oil when planning pregnancy

Fish oil is often necessary when planning a pregnancy due to its omega-3 fatty acids, which are not synthesized in the body, but are necessary throughout the pregnancy. Insufficient levels of polyunsaturated acids, vitamins and microelements in a woman's body can have a negative impact on both her health and the health of the future child. Therefore, the child's health begins at the stage of pregnancy planning. By consuming fish oil when planning a pregnancy, a woman replenishes a possible deficiency of vitamins (especially D and A) and microelements, saturates the body with omega-3 fatty acids, which contributes to favorable conception and the further course of pregnancy, and also has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of the fetus. Because the fetus receives omega-3 fatty acids from the mother through the placenta.

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