Fish Oil for Moms and Babies

Research at the University of Western Australia shows that fish oil - which is full of Omega 3 fatty acids - is good for both mothers and their babies. Mothers who include fish oil supplementation during pregnancy can improve hand-eye coordination and the baby's brain development.

Fish oil supplements may be even better than olive oil to provide long chain Omega 3 fatty acids!
Healthy pregnant women who participated in the study were divided into two groups. One group took four grams of fish oil daily, the second group took four grams of olive oil supplements daily. Women began taking the supplements in the twenty weeks of pregnancy and continued until delivery.

Children were tested two and half years later. The researchers tested the children's language, hand-eye coordination and other skills. Children of mothers who took fish oil supplements marked significantly higher on tests of hand-eye coordination than children whose mothers took supplements of olive oil. In tests of language skills and growth, there were no significant differences between the two groups.
Researchers believe the omega 3 fatty acids - like those found in fish and fish oil supplements - is essential for normal brain and vision development. The University of Western Australia study also found that high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids in cord blood samples had to do with hand-eye coordination good in children.

The food of many fish can help you get the same Omega 3 fatty acids. But if you are concerned about the mercury content in certain types of fish, you can get the same fatty acids in fish oil supplements. This study from the University of Western Australia suggests that it is safe for women to take fish oil supplements during the second half of pregnancy. The effects of supplementation on neurological development will be studied later, but apparently are beneficial.

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