Fish Oil During Pregnancy: What You Need To Know

Fish oil during pregnancy is said to have many positive effects on the development of the newborn. We have put together for you what is behind the numerous promises made about omega-3 fatty acids.

Fish oil during pregnancy: promised effects

Fish oil during pregnancy – this recommendation is controversial. Proponents call for positive effects on the development of the fetus, which should last until the child’s first years of life. In addition, the expectant mother should also benefit from it after the birth.

• Better mental development and higher intelligence are promoted for children whose mothers consume fish oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Infants with maternal fish oil intake are said to have benefits in terms of healthy eye development, especially the retina.
• In addition, fish oil preparations should help to ensure that the child does not become overweight later in life. It should also be better protected against diabetes.
• A regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil is said to protect newborns and toddlers from allergies.
• In addition, mothers who take fish oil in the last weeks of pregnancy until childbirth should be better protected against gestosis and postpartum depression.

Scientifically proven effects of fish oil

Some of the advertised effects actually stand up to scientific scrutiny. Others, however, have been refuted. According to the current state of knowledge, you can expect the following things when taking fish oil during pregnancy:

• What is certain is that you and your unborn child reduce the risk of premature birth by taking fish oil.
• You could sometimes even push back the delivery date by a few days. In all likelihood, your child will also achieve a higher birth weight.
• It is possible that with the oil a better maturation of the child’s immune system is achieved. In general, omega-3 fatty acids help to prevent excessive reactions (e.g. allergies) of the immune system in adults.
• Daily fish oil intake from the 20th week of pregnancy also has an effect on the later risk of allergies in the newborn: You can use it to reduce the frequency of asthma and allergies to chicken eggs and peanuts.
• You can count on your child becoming slightly larger and heavier with the oil up to the age of six than without.
• However, this is based on a greater increase in bone substance and muscle mass. The fat mass remains unaffected. You don’t need to worry that your child will be more prone to obesity as a result.
• Assumptions for better development and brain performance of infants with additional fish oil intake could not be confirmed. In studies, children from comparison groups with and without fish oil had no significant differences in cognitive abilities even at a later age.
• However, a basic supply of around 200 mg of DHA (a substance belonging to the omega-3 fatty acids) is important for brain development and vision in the fetus and breastfed infant.