I know, I know, the warnings come at you from everywhere... "Don't eat fish! Your baby will get mercury poisoning!" PLEASE be assured this dramatic recommendation is a case of too much caution, with a price. The omega-3 fat found in very high levels in fish, DHA, will actually help your baby's brain development -- during both pregnancy, and breastfeeding, since DHA shows up in breast milk when the mother is getting it in her diet.
Do the benefits outweigh the risks? If you follow the FDA's recommendation of avoiding big, long-living fish (shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish), and limiting tuna intake to 6oz per week, and limiting all other fish to 12oz per week... YES! the benefits to your baby outweigh the risks. By the way, 6oz of tuna is one can. Do you eat more than one can per week? And, 12oz of other fish (salmon has the most DHA omega-3's) is the equivalent of three 4oz (size of palm of your hand) servings per week. Do you eat more than that? I didn't think so.
It's okay to eat fish while you are pregnant!!
Posted by Emily B.
I know, I know, the warnings come at you from everywhere... "Don't eat fish! Your baby will get mercury poisoning!" PLEASE be assured this dramatic recommendation is a case of too much caution, with a price. The omega-3 fat found in very high levels in fish, DHA, will actually help your baby's brain development -- during both pregnancy, and breastfeeding, since DHA shows up in breast milk when the mother is getting it in her diet. Do the benefits outweigh the risks? If you follow the FDA's recommendation of avoiding big, long-living fish (shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish), and limiting tuna intake to 6oz per week, and limiting all other fish to 12oz per week... YES! the benefits to your baby outweigh the risks. By the way, 6oz of tuna is one can. Do you eat more than one can per week? And, 12oz of other fish (salmon has the most DHA omega-3's) is the equivalent of three 4oz (size of palm of your hand) servings per week. Do you eat more than that? I didn't think so.