Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Fetal Development
The "New Folic Acid" for Pregnancy Health

Most of us already know that the B-vitamin, folic acid, is important for healthy fetal development. Folic acid, contained in prenatal vitamins, has been shown to help prevent certain birth defects during pregnancy, particularly in the early stages following conception. Therefore, most obstetricians advise either a diet containing sound levels of folic acid and/or the use of prenatal vitamin supplements that boast a healthy amount of folic acid (the FDA recommends a minimum daily intake of 400mcg for trying-to-conceive, pregnant, and nursing women). What many TTC couples may not know is that Omega-3 fatty acids are also key to pregnancy health and have many important nutritional benefits that are just now filtering down from the scientific community to public knowledge.

Omega-3 fatty acids are, in short, key nutrients obtained from certain foods. These fatty-acids are a "brain food" and have also been shown to promote cardiac and circulatory health. They are not created by the body and are typically nutritionally acquired from seafoods and specific nuts and oils. What people may not know is that our "modern diets" are deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids, partially due to decreased consumption of healthy foods like fish that contain high amounts of these fatty acids. For pregnant women, this is particularly important, as your developing baby will absorb Omega-3 fatty acids directly from your body stores if your dietary intake is deficient. Without a diet containing sufficient amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, these stores will quickly become depleted - for both you and your baby. Therefore, a daily intake of around 250mg of Omega-3 fatty acids is recommended during pregnancy and throughout nursing.

So what do Omega-3 fatty acids do for pregnancy and fetal health? Research studies indicate the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are dynamic and far-reaching. As an introduction, Omega-3 fatty acids can be divided into two key pregnancy-related rubrics: DHA and EPA. The latter, EPA, is recognized for promoting the health of the heart and the cardiovascular system. DHA has been shown to promote several neurological functions and to support fetal development of the brain and cognitive faculties. DHA is also responsible for promoting the healthy development of the eyes. Moreover, Omega-3 fatty acids are now recognized for improving the health of pregnant women. To provide and overview of research studies, Omega-3 fatty acids have been demonstrated to:

1. Support brain and cognitive development of your baby during pregnancy and nursing.

2. Support the healthy development of your baby's eyes.

3. Increase learning ability and attention span during early childhood.

4. Prevent premature labor and delivery.

5. Support the pregnancy health of the mother by reducing postpartum depression and pregnancy complications like toxemia.

The most celebrated research on Omega-3 fatty acids and pregnancy health tend to focus on the role of DHA in supporting cognitive development, infant attention span, learning faculties, and development of the eyes. As DHA promotes neurological and brain function, studies indicate that babies born to mothers with higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids exhibit more developed cognitive abilities and attention spans. Moreover, the same studies indicate that these benefits have remained measurable through age four, indicating that DHA-related benefits are not at all short-term. Similar studies performed on visual-learning skills have yielded similar positive results. For the mother, Omega-3 fatty acid intake has also been shown to improve mood and decrease symptoms associated with postpartum depression - logical considering that Omegas are informally known as a "brain food". Furthermore, other pregnancy benefits associated with Omega-3 fatty acids suggest a reduced chance of premature birth, caesarian birth, or pregnancy-complications like toxemia.

Getting the Omega-3 fatty acids you and your baby need is not difficult. Again, the Omegas are not created naturally within your body but must be derived from food sources. To increase intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, many doctors recommend vitamin supplementation containing the Omegas. Note that there are Omega-3 pregnancy supplements designed specifically for pregnant and nursing mothers. These supplements, like Pregnancy Plus Omega 3 and Prenatal Pure Omega 3, are very safe and free of pollutants, contaminants, or mercury.

Seafood is also an answer, though some fish today do exhibit high levels of pollutants. Mercury is particularly hazardous to fetal development and pregnancy health. Therefore, some fish should be avoided during pregnancy and there is a limit to how much fish should be consumed per weak. The EPA suggests the following:

1. Avoid eating Swordfish, Shark, King Mackerel, or Tilefish - all high in mercury. Predatory fish (higher up the food chain) tend to accumulate mercury in greater amounts.
2. Eat about 12 ounces (2 or so meals) a week of fish known to contain low levels of mercury: These include salmon, canned light tuna (non-albacore), pollock, catfish, and shrimp.
3. Check local advisories on the safety of fish or shellfish.

As more and more research is published on Omega-3 fatty acids, more and more exciting information is trickling down to the public regarding Omega-3 fatty acids and fetal-pregnancy health. Like folic acid, the Omega-3 fatty acids may become the next nutritional cornerstone to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy - and a smarter kid!