The answer is both yes and no. There are two types of fish oils.
- One is made from the body of fish. These are called omega-3 supplements. These are safe to consume during pregnancy.
- The other is made from the liver of fish (cod liver oil). These are unsafe to consume during pregnancy.
While both contain long-chain omega-3 fatty acids which help to develop the baby’s brain and eyes; the later also contain the retinol form of vitamin A. And retinol is harmful for the foetus.
But rather than consuming the oils in the form of supplements, doctors recommend that you consume two portions of oily fish in a week (anything in excess of this can be harmful s they contain more environmental pollutants). In fact consumption of the fish will help you to prevent preeclampsia and also avoid a pre term baby.
Oily fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include sardines, mackerel, salmon, trout and tuna. But avoid canned tuna as the canned ones are depleted of all the beneficial oils.
However, if you do choose to have the fish oil supplements then do consult your doctor before popping onto into your mouth.
Here are a few more articles that you may wish to read regarding food and diet during pregnancy.
