the9months

Fish for dinner?

Is it safe to eat fish while you’re pregnant? While it is a great source of many of the nutrients you and your developing baby need, you may be avoiding it because of the Food and Drug Administration’s recommendations to limit how much fish you eat because of high levels of a type of mercury found in some fish. The FDA has asked women and their young children to limit their weekly portion to 12 ounces of fish (about two servings, far more than most Americans actually eat each week), and to avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish (sometimes called golden or white snapper), orange roughy, marlin, grouper, Spanish mackerel (from the Gulf of Mexico), and tuna steaks. Canned light tuna (12 ounces per week) is safe to consume, while canned white tuna (albacore) is higher in mercury and should be avoided or limited to 6 ounces per week. Raw fish and shellfish can have high bacteria counts and viruses, and should be avoided during pregnancy. Reports do suggest fish that are low in mercury, such as smaller fish and farm-raised fish like salmon, pollock, and shrimp, are good for women and their babies, and can be eaten twice a week or more.

Fish remains an excellent source of protein, essential vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids, all needed for healthy fetal development. In one study of 9,000 women, those who ate fish or seafood once a week during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy were less likely to give birth to low-birth-weight or premature babies than women who never ate fish or seafood. If you have given birth to a low-birth-weight or premature baby in the past, you may wish to discuss with your doctor the benefits of taking a daily fish oil supplement. While the reasons for its protection against premature birth are not fully understood, fish oil contains important omega-3 fatty acids, including the nutrient DHA, which has been shown to be essential for optimal brain and vision development in fetuses and infants.

Your Baby’s Development

• Between 9 and 12 weeks, the fetus doubles in size to 3 inches from head to toe.
• The connections between the nerves and the muscles have tripled since last week.
• Teeth begin to take shape.
• About 70 grams of amniotic fluid bathe the fetus.

(Courtesy: University of Virginia Health System)

Tags: fish, omega-3 fatty acids, pregnancy, week 11

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 at 6:08 AM and is filed under Week by Week. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.