Omega-3 Deficiency During Pregnancy

Prenatal Health

Becoming a mother can be wonderful, and also highly stressful. With sleepless nights, breastfeeding and long busy days, you need to make sure that your body is getting enough nutrition. In addition to taking a prenatal vitamin, women must consider including an omega-3 supplement as well. Omega-3 fats are essential, as your body cannot produce them, so you must take them in through your diet or supplementation

Pregnant Women Omega-3 Dosage

Nearly 3/4 of pregnant women don’t get enough omega-3. Fish is the best source of omega-3 but with concerns about environmental toxins and the fact that 89% of Irish people don’t eat the minimum amount of oily fish required, i.e. 2 portions of oily fish e.g. salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, the likelihood is that you need to supplement with a pure high quality omega-3 fish oil. Furthermore, it was recently found that nearly 3/4 pregnant women are not getting the minimum amount of DHA required daily to meet the needs of their growing baby.

Omega-3 should be an essential supplement in every woman’s daily health regime before and during pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding. Both EPA and DHA are important, but DHA is particularly important throughout pregnancy and during the early stages of an infant’s life. DHA is brain nutrition. It’s to our brains as calcium is to our bones. Throughout life, we all need DHA. It is essential for brain and eye development during the early years, and can even slow mental decline in the elderly.

Symptoms of Omega-3 Deficiency During Pregnancy

Udo Erasmus, the author of the international bestseller “Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill” notes that depletion of EFAs during pregnancy explains why women experience far more depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue, and more inflammatory, autoimmune, and collagen diseases than men.

He adds that some other potential symptoms of Omega 3 deficiency caused by the growth of the foetus are:

• Low energy
• Impaired vision
• Poor motor co-ordination
• Tingling sensation in limbs
• Behavioural changes and mental deterioration
• High blood pressure
• Water retention
• Digestive problems
• Dry skin
• Weight gain
• Stretch marks

DHA Essential Brain Nutrition for Mother and Baby

DHA is essential to ensure optimal foetal brain, eye, immune and nervous system development, with increased levels required during the third trimester. Research shows that there is a rapid increase in DHA levels in the third trimester, and this continues for up to two years. The baby gets all its DHA requirements from the mother, so it’s vital that mum makes sure to consume or supplement with sufficient omega-3 to meet these needs. If neglected, this increased demand for DHA can leave a mother depleted and at risk for problems associated with essential fatty acids deficiency, such as postpartum depression.

Women who take a high quality omega-3 supplement daily, are more likely to reach full term, and their babies are more likely to have a healthier birth weight. The benefits don’t stop there. Studies show maternal DHA supplementation resulted in mental development advantages in children including improved psychomotor development ( eye-hand coordination) at 2.5 years of age and improved attention skills at 5 years of age.

Fish oil is a safe and natural source of DHA, ideal for pregnancy and breastfeeding. International Experts recommend 300-600 mg of DHA per day for pregnant and lactating women. Choose a high quality fish oil product such as Eskimo-3, which boasts legendary purity, freshness and stability.