Dear Pregnant Moms...

Over the weekend, I heard again about the warnings on fish - how they are great sources of omega 3s and DHAs and all sorts of healthy stuff, but are so contaminated with mercury they become more bad than good - while at the same time learning the benefits that these exact nutrients provide for pregnant moms and their babies.

Take what you can from these guys:

"Omega-3 fatty acids are required nutrients for prenatal development. While a baby will derive his or her nutrition from the mother's body, a pregnant woman should consume enough Omega-3 fatty acids to satisfy both her and her baby's requirements. The most critical Omega-3 fatty acid is DHA(Docosahexaenoic acid). Found throughout the body, it is a key structural fat and is integral in the development of the retina, the brain, and the heart. In fact, approximately 97% of all omega-3 fatty acids found in the brain is DHA as well as 93% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the eyes is DHA."

Furthermore:

"The fact is, recent scientific literature suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids play a key part in pregnancy health -and in the healthy development of your baby. The benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are clear. To summarize recent research conclusions, Omega-3s...

• Offer critical nutrients for the neurological development of your baby.
• Promote the development of your baby's cardiac and respiratory systems.
• Support the development of your baby's brain and eyes (development of visual centers).
• Have been shown to increase the learning and cognitive function of your child, with effects measurable to age four.
• Increase the attention span of your child (a measurable component of intelligence early in life)
• Support the pregnancy health of the mother, possibly reducing chances of toxemia (or pre-eclampsia).
• May help prevent pre-term labor and premature delivery.

And they go on...

"Eating more seafood is one very simple solution, with one large caveat: increased pollution, contaminants, and mercury levels in many species of fish (particularly some types of tuna, swordfish, and larger predatory fish). For a pregnancy diet, the FDA has even suggested limits on how much and what kinds of fish a woman can safely consume on a weekly basis. Mercury, in particular, is a neural toxin which can hurt a baby's developing brain or cause birth defects. High levels of PCBs (or polychlorinated byphenols), which may be found in farmed salmon, have also been linked to birth defects. Raw or undercooked fish is, of course, a no-no for other reasons.

The other good news is that, in addition to some types of safer seafoods (moderate amounts of salmon, pacific cod, and canned tuna), there are dietary sources of Omega-3 fatty acids that do not contain pollutants or mercury. Indeed, newer dietary supplements offer purified (contaminant free) Omega-3s - some from seafood sources and some from flaxseed oil, etc. A supplement like Prenatal Pure Omega-3 is specifically designed for pregnancy, and is certified mercury-free. For nursing mothers, Prenatal Pure Omega-3 (or other pure sources of Omega-3s) are highly advised because fatty acid nutrients pass directly from mother to child via breast milk."

This news is becoming more and more wide-spread, as more and more mothers are becoming aware of the facts. There is so much information out there. Here are just a few more I found. It's easy to google if you want more...

1. Expectant Mother's Guide.

2. This one uses charts and graphs and offers a really amazing presentation of information: MedScape CME.

3. For a more scientific explanation try Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology

4. Or The Role of Omega-3 article.

And as I've written about before, if you go out and choose which supplement is be best for you - if that's the route you've chosen - make sure you know where the ingredients came from... be sure you can trust the company and that their products aren't as contaminated as the fish we are avoiding! And just to have a high standard to compare it to, check this one out as well.