I started my personal journey into supplementing my lifestyle with Omega-3 DHA over a decade ago. At that time, the Omega-3 supplements were not widely sold or even being talked about. All my education about the benefits of Omega-3 was done with the help of limited online resources. I also visited health shows and expos where Omega-3 DHA supplements were unveiled and promoted. CHECK OUT THEM ON AMAZON HERE.
From everything I learned about Omega-3 DHA has been a valuable journey for me and my child. I took Omega-3 before and during my pregnancy. And I still continue to take it on the daily basis. My child is the recipient of Omega-3 DHA as well. We do it religiously in our family.
In this post, I’d like to emphasize the importance of Omega-3 DHA during pregnancy. Babies totally depend on the supply of DHA from a mother, as they are unable to convert enough alpha-linolenic oil (an omega-3 oil) into DHA.
Look at the benefits Omega-3 DHA supplies to the growing babies inside the mother’s womb!
Brain Development
“Researchers at the School of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Western Australia found that two years after birth, the children whose mothers had received a high dose of fish oil (including 2.2 g of DHA) in the second half of their pregnancy had higher scores in tests of their eye-hand coordination. ” (Ref. Everyday Health)
Another study done in the UK has found the following benefits of eating foods rich in Omega-3 DHA:
“The study found that children of women who ate more than the recommended amount of seafood during pregnancy had higher scores for verbal intelligence, fine motor skills, communication, and social development.”
Visual Development
Many studies suggest that higher DHA levels in babies’ diets does translate into better brain functioning, especially for cognitive and visual function. Simply said, babies see better, and their vision plays a more powerful role in developing other important functions as they grow.
(Ref. McCann JC, Ames BN. Is docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, required for development of normal brain function? An overview of evidence from cognitive and behavioral tests in humans and animals. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Aug;82(2):281-95.)
Higher Birth Weight
Researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands found that mothers whose DHA levels, especially early in pregnancy, were higher had babies with better developed weight and head circumference at birth. (Ref. Everyday Health)
What are the Sources for Omega-3?
• Coldwater Fish – Salmon, Herring, Sardines, Anchovies, Krill
• Avoid these fish – Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish
• Eat Sparingly – Canned Albacore Tuns and Freshwater Fish, Shellfish
• Walnuts and Walnut Oil
• Seaweed
For pregnant and breastfeeding women, do use caution if you go after fish, as it may contain high levels of mercury. It is safer to use Fish Oil Omega-3 supplements.
Obviously, food sources for the Omega-3 are the best way to go. However, with pollution widely-spread, you may be better-off with high quality fish oil or plant source for Omega-3 DHA supplements.
Currently, there are no official recommendations on the amount of DHA pregnant women need. What is clear is that Omega-3 DHA is one of the key supplementations our bodies need.
23 thoughts on “Importance of Omega-3 DHA During Pregnancy”
I never liked anything fishy when I was pregnant. I have taken Omega 3 and really liked the results.
This is so so important! Even before and after pregnancy, DHA and Omega-3s are so helpful for health.
Great information to share. There are so many things to do when you are pregnant — taking Omega 3 is definitely one of them.
My doctor prescribed it when i was pregnant. I find it helped me a lot as the baby. Thanks for sharing about it
I’ve been looking into the benefits of Omega 3 so your post came at a good time. Flaxseeds are another good vegetarian source.
My grandmother made me eat seaweed after I gave birth to my son. 🙂
I took Omega 3 as part of my pregnancy supplements. So many fabulous benefits in it, not just for baby but for mothers too.
There are a lot of benefits of omega 3. It’s best though to check if some foods are ok since other ingredients would not be as favorable.
We have a lot of seafood allergies in our home, so we didn’t do DHA, but I have heard of the many benefits it can bring to babies. My youngest daughter drinks soy milk and I always buy her the type fortified with it.
This is really an informative post. I’m not expecting (and don’t expect to again any time soon), but I will be passing this on to my SIL who is planning her next pregnancy.
I actually didn’t realize the importance of Omega, DHA and Folic Acid until I was pregnant. I think it’s important to share this knowledge so all women understand how this can impact the development of their babies. Thank you for sharing.
I started taking folic acid when I started trying to conceive my youngest. Once I found out that I was expecting, I switched to gummy prenatal vitamins. I couldn’t stomach the prenatals with iron. The gummies were great and contained the DHA for Braun development and they tasted great. They don’t contain iron so you do have to make sure that you eat foods rich in iron.
This is interesting information! I would encourage women to discuss any supplements with their doctor before starting. There is so much information to review and worries when you are pregnant – eat healthy, exercise, rest, and get ready to love that new baby!
Omega 3’s are very important for babies brain development. I’m glad we nursed and duplex,enter with formula that helped in this area when we needed to.
I always took vitamins during all four of my pregnancies, and think it is really important to do so for not just your sake but for your baby’s too!
This is a great resource for expecting moms. It is crazy how many different sources there are for this.
This is such great information for pregnant moms. I took this in my prenatal vitamins back in the day.
A very informative post. I know there are so many things we need when pregnant that we don’t get enough of.
I knew it was important but I was unclear of why. It seems to affect a lot of crucial parts of development!
Our family friend recently found out she was pregnant and is stressing out over all the things she needs to know/doesn’t know! I’ll definitely pass this along to her <3
it’s so important to take your vitamins, i made sure to take mine too 🙂
Omega-3 is a really important supplement for everyone! I did try taking it then was told to stop–I am actually allergic to shell fish and iodine. But I am a rare case indeed!! I totally agree with everything you said up there–unless you have some unusual allergies like I do.
Thank you for allowing me to learn something new! I never heard of this before!