Omega 3 Pregnancy Benefits

Are there any omega 3 pregnancy benefits? Plenty!

The omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are richly found in fish oil, and some research suggests that pregnant women who consume fish oil have lower risk of premature delivery. DHA has also been found to have protective effects against low birth weight and even miscarriages.

Preeclampsia is a condition which hits after 20 weeks of pregnancy marked by high blood pressure, protein in urine as well as swelling, and fish oil has been used to help prevent it.

Omega 3 pregnancy benefits are further evident in the fact that consuming fish oil during pregnancy benefits the child in several ways: better brain health and function, lower risk of allergies, better hand-eye coordination, lower likelihood of getting eczema, and even being happier!

Omega 3 fatty acids also help promote proper fetal development, warding off growth problems as well as behavioral disorders in the child later. DHA, for example, supports the proper development of a child's eyes and brain.

The amount of these very important nutrients consumed by a woman during pregnancy contributes to the development of her child's intelligence, susceptibility to antisocial behavior, as well as fine motor skills - this includes hand-eye coordination and how well he or she is able to manipulate small objects. These benefits were mentioned by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., in his book "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why".

When it comes to omega 3 pregnancy positive effects, it's not just the child who benefits, but the mother, too. For example, omega 3-rich fish oil has been shown to lower the risk of postpartum depression.

And, even during the nursing stage, women can give their children's health, intelligence and happiness a boost by consuming good amounts of omega 3 fatty acids.

Further, there is evidence suggesting that DHA is important for an infant's proper vision and nervous system development. For premature babies, research has revealed that DHA can improve their brain function, while this essential fatty acid can help young adults cope better with mental stress by reducing their likelihood of turning aggressive.

Indeed, there is quite a bit of evidence linking omega 3 fatty acids, fish oils and pregnancy.

One thing to note - if you are thinking of harnessing the omega 3 pregnancy benefits through the consumption of cod liver oil, you need to exercise extreme caution. This is because cod liver oil has very high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin D, and consuming too much of it can lead to toxic levels of these vitamins. If in doubt, do consult a suitable natural health care practitioner.