Pregnancy and fish consumption

Pregnancy is a period in a woman's life where the present lifestyle has to be changed in order to cope up with the needs of the growling baby in the womb. This might mean giving up a few hobbies that may be harmful such as extreme sports, drinking and partying. Another change that a woman needs to adapt into is to make each meal nutrient- dense. Nutrient dense means that an expectant mom is able to sufficiently provide the much-needed nutrition of the baby for it to grow healthily. Having enough protein is very important especially when pregnant. If you avoid are trying to avoid all the saturated fats for a healthier diet, you should include fish as your source of protein when expecting. But are all types of fish safe for consumption during pregnancy?

Protein contains the amino acid that serves as the building blocks for the development of tissues and the muscles. This is why having enough protein in the body when pregnant is very crucial to be able to avoid pregnancy complications such as low birth weight and early birth that can result from the insufficiency.

One of the great sources of protein is fish. Unlike meats it is low in saturated fats thus also giving you health benefits. Aside from being an excellent source of amino acids that is essential to the development of muscles, it is also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that promote better brain development.

However when pregnant, it is recommended that eating fish is taken in moderation. This is in particular with predator fishes that should be avoided as much as possible. Predator type of fish has the high risk of mercury contamination that is harmful to the development of the baby.

Mercury exposure can create behavioral problems and also could slow the progress of walking and talking in children. If you are expecting and concerned about this, it is best that you consult your physician so he can inform you what type of fish is safe for consumption during pregnancy. Some of the types of fish that should be not being eaten when pregnant are shark, tilefish, king mackerel and marlin. Tuna may also contain high level of methylmercury so it is best to include it in the list.

There are a lot of things that you need to adapt into during pregnancy for the welfare of the baby in the womb. The health of the baby depends on the mother so it is best to keep it in the mind.




Riza C. Belgira is health enthusiast and an advocate of strengthening women's health and well-being through informative health resources and articles.

Visit her web site and explore informative and useful tips on 4d scans, pregnancy, dieting and weight loss at http://www.4d-ultrasoundscan.co.uk/.