The Benefits of Omega-3 for an Unborn Baby
An unborn baby needs many different nutrients from its mother to grow and develop into a healthy child.
Some nutrients promote healthy growth and others reduce the risk of birth defects.
One important nutrient is omega-3, a fatty acid naturally found in fish, flaxseed, and walnuts.
Here's why it's so important for unborn children: Brain and Eye Development in the Unborn For the baby's brain and eyes to develop correctly, it uses omega-3.
Higher amounts of omega-3 improve the unborn baby's IQ, hand-eye coordination, social interactions, and visual learning skills.
Ideally, a woman trying to conceive should build up her supply of omega-3, especially DHA omega-3.
After conception, she should continue taking in omega-3 throughout her pregnancy, and even more so in the third trimester.
The third trimester is when most of the brain development occurs, and is also the time when the most DHA is taken from the mother to her unborn baby.
It's important for the mother-to-be to have a large supply of omega-3.
Since human bodies are unable to create omega-3, we have to get it from food or health supplements.
Because pregnant women are advised to only have 2 servings of fish a week due to the risk of mercury and other contaminants, fish oil supplements are the safest and most viable option to creating and maintaining a high omega-3 supply.
Omega-3 May Prevent Preterm Births A preterm birth is birth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation; if a baby is born before 37 weeks, he or she risks having any number of different health problems.
Sadly, some preterm births even lead to the baby's death.
However, every pregnancy is different and there is no single cause for preterm births.
While every woman's risk of giving birth prematurely differs according to her own health history, there are a few groups that have a higher risk of it than others and include
Preterm birth is very risky for babies, especially those who are gestationally very young and those with birth defects, so anything that helps prevent preterm labor can be an aid in protecting and nurturing the health of the unborn baby.
Omega-3 in the form of fish oil supplements have various health benefits, many of which deal with heart health.
Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure in pregnant women, can increase the risk of preterm labor and birth; increasing omega-3 intake and lowering the amount of omega-6 actually reduces the risk of preeclampsia by 46%.
Even if a mother gives preterm birth and is breastfeeding, omega-3 supplements can help the premature baby by increasing mental development.
A study showed that when compared with premature babies that were fed formula or breast milk that wasn't supplemented with omega-3, half of the omega-3 supplemented babies didn't suffer from delayed mental development.
Other Benefits of Omega-3 for Unborn Babies Along with brain and eye development, omega-3 fatty acids also help develop the baby's immune and nervous systems, which reduces the baby's risk of allergies.
Furthermore, behavior and focus are markedly improved when the unborn baby has been getting high levels of omega-3.
Reaping these benefits can easily be done by taking fish oil supplements during pregnancy.
Some nutrients promote healthy growth and others reduce the risk of birth defects.
One important nutrient is omega-3, a fatty acid naturally found in fish, flaxseed, and walnuts.
Here's why it's so important for unborn children: Brain and Eye Development in the Unborn For the baby's brain and eyes to develop correctly, it uses omega-3.
Higher amounts of omega-3 improve the unborn baby's IQ, hand-eye coordination, social interactions, and visual learning skills.
Ideally, a woman trying to conceive should build up her supply of omega-3, especially DHA omega-3.
After conception, she should continue taking in omega-3 throughout her pregnancy, and even more so in the third trimester.
The third trimester is when most of the brain development occurs, and is also the time when the most DHA is taken from the mother to her unborn baby.
It's important for the mother-to-be to have a large supply of omega-3.
Since human bodies are unable to create omega-3, we have to get it from food or health supplements.
Because pregnant women are advised to only have 2 servings of fish a week due to the risk of mercury and other contaminants, fish oil supplements are the safest and most viable option to creating and maintaining a high omega-3 supply.
Omega-3 May Prevent Preterm Births A preterm birth is birth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation; if a baby is born before 37 weeks, he or she risks having any number of different health problems.
Sadly, some preterm births even lead to the baby's death.
However, every pregnancy is different and there is no single cause for preterm births.
While every woman's risk of giving birth prematurely differs according to her own health history, there are a few groups that have a higher risk of it than others and include
- Women who've had a preterm birth before
- Women pregnant with multiples
- Women with abnormalities in the uterus or cervix
Preterm birth is very risky for babies, especially those who are gestationally very young and those with birth defects, so anything that helps prevent preterm labor can be an aid in protecting and nurturing the health of the unborn baby.
Omega-3 in the form of fish oil supplements have various health benefits, many of which deal with heart health.
Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure in pregnant women, can increase the risk of preterm labor and birth; increasing omega-3 intake and lowering the amount of omega-6 actually reduces the risk of preeclampsia by 46%.
Even if a mother gives preterm birth and is breastfeeding, omega-3 supplements can help the premature baby by increasing mental development.
A study showed that when compared with premature babies that were fed formula or breast milk that wasn't supplemented with omega-3, half of the omega-3 supplemented babies didn't suffer from delayed mental development.
Other Benefits of Omega-3 for Unborn Babies Along with brain and eye development, omega-3 fatty acids also help develop the baby's immune and nervous systems, which reduces the baby's risk of allergies.
Furthermore, behavior and focus are markedly improved when the unborn baby has been getting high levels of omega-3.
Reaping these benefits can easily be done by taking fish oil supplements during pregnancy.
