Adding DHA During Pregnancy Can Benefit Your Unborn Child’s Brain And Nervous System

Have you been noticing these three capital letters “DHA added” appearing on the labels of certain items at the grocery store and wonder what it means? DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is one of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that have many healthful properties such as lowering cholesterol as well as lowering blood pressure. Besides these benefits it is now recommended to use a supplement of DHA during pregnancy along with prenatal vitamins to aid in the proper brain growth and eye development of the fetus. Of course, always check with your doctor first before starting any new supplements.

Some of the grocery items with DHA added include Pure Premium Healthy Heart with Omega-3 Orange Juice and 12 Grain Bread with omega-3. There are also several companies that are now marketing omega-3 fortified eggs. These are all good but won’t come close to giving you the amount of DHA that your body needs, especially during pregnancy. Some foods that naturally contain DHA are anchovies, herring, sardines and other oily fishes. You need to use extreme caution when eating fish, though, because of possible high levels of mercury and other contaminants present. Some high-mercury fish that should be avoided entirely by children and women in their child-bearing years are swordfish, tilefish, shark, and king mackerel.

Another way to guarantee an adequate amount of DHA during pregnancy is by taking fish oil supplements. It is recommended to take 300-1400 mg of DHA daily while pregnant and it is extremely critical during the third trimester to support the healthy development of the brain and nerve cell membranes of the fetus. This regimen should be continued during breast feeding as the brain requires high amounts of DHA as it triples in size by the time the baby is one year old.

Research (Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2003) has also shown that mothers supplementing with DHA have been able to increase the length of their pregnancy delivering a healthy baby at full term rather than a premature delivery.

Other studies have shown that mothers benefit from taking this essential fatty acid as it reduces their risk of postpartum depression. Many women are given the book “What to Expect When You are Expecting” at their first pre-natal doctor visit. In this book the author, Heidi Murkoff, assigns a portion in the diet chapter of her book to the significance of sufficient <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.omega-3-health.com/”>DHA during pregnancy</a>.  She emphasizes the importance of this special nutrient throughout the entire pregnancy, but especially during the last three months.

As you look for omega-3 fish oil dietary supplements, be sure to read labels to identify one with a high percentage of DHA. It is also a good idea to find a product that states that it has been molecularly distilled, a process by which all contaminants are removed leaving a more superior and pure fish oil. There are also manufacturers who have produced a tasteless and odorless product that doesn’t cause “fish burps” after taking the supplements. So remember to take your DHA during pregnancy along with your pre-natal vitamins. You’ll be glad you did.

For more information on the health benefits of Omega 3 check out my web site listed in the bio section below.

Tagged with: Adding • Benefit • Brain • Child’s • During • NERVOUS • Pregnancy • System • Unborn

Filed under: Prenatal Depression

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