Fish oil during pregnancy: indications for use, contraindications, dosage

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Balanced nutrition during pregnancy plays an almost decisive role in the full development of the child. But sometimes this is not enough to cover all the needs of a woman's body in vitamins and minerals. In this case, the doctor may recommend that the pregnant woman take various dietary supplements. Fish oil is one of them. During pregnancy, it should only be taken as directed by a doctor. About the dosage in which it should be done and how it is useful for the expectant mother and child, we will tell in our article.

Is it possible to take fish oil during pregnancy: indications for use

This product has been known to many people since Soviet times. Fish oil is a fat supplement, the components of which are highly biologically active. Externally, the product resembles a thick vegetable oil with a characteristic fishy taste andsmell. In fact, this is a real fat - an extract from the liver of large cod fish. In the Soviet years, this fat supplement was prescribed to all children and schoolchildren, without exception, in order to prevent rickets and other dangerous diseases. But if everything is more or less clear with children, then the question of whether you can drink fish oil during pregnancy or not is still debatable.

Indeed, in the annotation to preparations containing fish oil, it is indicated that it is not recommended for pregnant women. Therefore, it is forbidden to take a fat supplement on your own, and this should be done only as directed by a doctor. Indications for taking fish oil during pregnancy are:

• lack of seafood in the future mother's diet;
• fetal growth retardation;
• increased risk of developing late toxicosis (preeclampsia);
• history of pregnancies that ended in miscarriages;
• prevention of preterm birth.

It is worth noting that drugs with the appropriate composition are prescribed only if the woman has no contraindications to taking.

Chemical composition of the product and nutritional value

Fish oil is a source of vitamins A, E and D, trace elements, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids. It contains in the optimal amount all those substances that are necessary to maintain the work of the heart, strengthen blood vessels, the normal functioning of the brain and the nervous system as a whole. In addition to omega-3, fishfat includes oleic, linoleic, linolenic, stearic and other fatty acids. All of them are very important for a woman's body, as they help strengthen immunity, improve metabolism, normal development of the fetus and the course of pregnancy in general.

Fish oil is not only an extremely useful product, but also very high in calories. Its 100 g contains 570 mg of pure cholesterol. That is why it should be taken only after consulting a doctor, taking into account the existing contraindications.

How good is fish oil for the fetus?

Most doctors consider it appropriate for a pregnant woman to get omega-3 fatty acids not only from food, but also in addition. Fish oil contributes to the normal development of the fetus in the womb, as well as:

• improves blood flow to the placenta, thereby providing the baby with all the necessary nutrients;
• reduces the risk of allergic reactions in the baby after birth;
• has a positive effect on the cerebral cortex, improving the mental abilities of the baby;
• provides prevention of rickets long before the baby is born.

Thus, as prescribed by a doctor during pregnancy, fish oil can be drunk and even necessary, since it contributes to the normal intrauterine development of the fetus. In addition, the fat supplement will be useful for a nursing mother. It is believed that fish oil helps to increase lactation and improve the quality of milk.

The benefits of the product for the futuremothers

It's no secret that a woman's immunity during the period of bearing a baby is greatly reduced and the risk of developing colds, viral, infectious and other diseases increases. To prevent these conditions, doctors often prescribe fish oil to their patients during pregnancy. It is safe to say that it is very useful for the expectant mother, because it contributes to:

• immunity boost;
• lower blood cholesterol levels;
• improve the condition of hair and nails;
• normalize the work of the cardiovascular system and improve blood circulation;
• increased production of the hormone of joy - serotonin;
• preventing the development of preeclampsia (late toxicosis);
• reducing the risk of miscarriage.

Fish oil is prescribed for pregnant women in order to make up for the deficiency of omega-3 in the body, which is especially acute during childbearing.

Contraindications for use

Fish oil can be called a powerful and effective remedy for many diseases. And if in the countries of the post-Soviet space it is used as a fat supplement, then in the USA this same product has long been registered as a drug. This is why fish oil during pregnancy, for all its benefits, should only be taken as directed.

Women in position should not use it in the following cases:

• for kidney failure and other kidney diseases;
• with deviations in the work of the endocrinesystem and dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• for pancreatitis and gallbladder disease;
• when diagnosing an open form of tuberculosis.

Fish oil should not be taken at the same time as a vitamin complex that already includes omega-3s. Otherwise, it may threaten hypervitaminosis.

Possible harm from consumption

During pregnancy, fish oil should be taken with caution as it can cause the following side effects:

• lower or higher blood pressure;
• nausea;
• loss of appetite;
• constipation;
• headaches;
• depressed.

Harm from the use of fish oil doctors associate with the high content of vitamin A in it, which tends to accumulate in the body, causing deformities of the fetus. That's why it's so important to avoid overdose of the drug.

In what form and dosage should I take fish oil

Many people remember the specific taste of fish oil from childhood. It was usually given to toddlers in kindergarten and schoolchildren in liquid form, a teaspoon every day. It was very unpleasant to drink it. Today, in any pharmacy, you can buy fish oil in capsules. During pregnancy, this form of vitamin is considered optimal, especially in the early stages, when a spoonful of an unpleasant-tasting drink can easily cause another bout of nausea. Another advantage of capsulesis that it is more convenient to take them, since it is almost impossible to mix up the dosage and pour more medicine into a spoon than it should be.

How often and for how long to take fish oil, the doctor should tell. The usual dosage is 1 capsule 3 times a day for 2-3 months. It is recommended to take the drug immediately after a meal, drinking the medicine with a sufficient amount of water. The best time to take fish oil is during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Fish oil at different stages of pregnancy

In most cases, preparations containing omega-3 acids are prescribed to women in the II or III trimesters of pregnancy. Fish oil in the early stages, that is, in the first 12 weeks of gestation, is advisable to take in cases where the woman's previous pregnancies ended in miscarriages, anembryos, or there is a risk of terminating the current pregnancy. In this case, taking the drugs prescribed by the doctor will increase the chances of a successful outcome.

If the pregnancy is normal, you can take fish oil from the 20th week. Such a drug is prescribed for prevention and at the initial stage of preeclampsia. The first symptoms of this dangerous condition are: swelling, increased blood pressure, nausea and dizziness. In addition, the use of a fat supplement in the second trimester of pregnancy is indicated for those women who, according to the results of screening, have revealed intrauterine growth retardation. In this case, fish oil helps to improve blood flow between the placenta and the baby, as a result of which the fetus begins to receive more oxygen andthe nutrients it needs.

Admission recommendations

Before you start taking fish oil during pregnancy, you should read the following rules:

1. Acceptance of any medications and dietary supplements should be discussed with a doctor in advance.
2. Fish oil, like most other vitamins, should be taken as a course, and not on an ongoing basis, since the product tends to accumulate in the body. This is fraught with side effects for the fetus.
3. Fish oil should be taken with or after meals. This will avoid stomach pain and ensure the most complete absorption of the vitamin in the body.
4. Do not take fish oil at the same time as other complexes that already include vitamins A and D.

Should I take fish oil when planning a pregnancy

Modern woman takes a more responsible approach to the process of conceiving a child. Even at the stage of pregnancy planning, she passes all the necessary tests and, on the recommendation of a doctor, begins taking vitamins, such as folic acid, which prevents the risk of developing neural tube defects in the fetus. At the same time, it is necessary to adhere to a proper and balanced diet, include more fresh vegetables and fruits, meat and fish in your diet.

It is recommended to start taking fish oil when planning pregnancy, like other vitamins, 2-3 months before the intended conception. This will strengthen the immunity of the expectant mother.and increase the chances of successful conception and safe bearing of the baby. According to medical statistics, women who took fish oil at the planning stage in more than 60% of cases gave birth to absolutely he althy children, and their pregnancy passed without any complications.

Reviews of pregnant women

Until now, doctors cannot agree on whether to take fish oil during pregnancy. Reviews of women who drank it in the process of carrying a baby are also quite contradictory. They boil down to:

1. Not all pregnant women were able to drink fish oil. Some experienced nausea a few minutes after ingestion, while others experienced pain in the stomach or pancreas.
2. Women who took fish oil during the second trimester noted that their children developed much faster than their peers. This means that omega-3s really improve brain function and increase the mental abilities of a child in the future.
3. Taking fish oil after the 35th week of pregnancy improves skin elasticity. Women who were prescribed the vitamin in the third trimester noted that they managed to avoid interruptions in labor.

Most women are surprised that pregnancy is one of the contraindications for taking fish oil preparations in the annotation. They believe that it must be taken without fail, since it is necessary for the normal bearing and development of the fetus.