All rights reserved. As a specialist in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, I am often asked about eating fish during pregnancy.
Try starting the day with a healthy breakfast. Too much mercury in your bloodstream could damage your baby's developing brain and nervous system.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that pregnant women eat at least 8 ounces and up to 12 ounces (340 grams) of a variety of seafood lower in mercury a week. That's about two to three servings.Eat a variety of seafood that's low in mercury and high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as:However, limit white (albacore) tuna and tuna steaks to 6 ounces (170 grams) a week.Beyond seafood, other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include:Keep in mind that researchers haven't yet determined whether supplements can promote fetal brain development. But not so fast — it's also loaded with PCBs.So what’s the real dish on fish during pregnancy? Fish are a high quality protein source, and lower mercury fish are a good choice for everyone. State advisories will tell you how often you can safely eat those fish.PDFs of the advice are available in the following languages:The table portion of the advice is available in Spanish (*Algunos pescados capturados por familiares y amigos, como la carpa grande, el pez gato, la trucha y la perca, es más probable que tengan recomendaciones de consumo debido al mercurio u otros contaminantes.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Consider these precautions: Avoid large, predatory fish. Shark, swordfish and marlin.
This advice is specifically for women who are or might become pregnant, breastfeeding mothers, and children over 2 years but everyone can follow this advice.Use the chart to help you choose which fish to eat each week. If you’re unsure of the rules on fish and pregnancy, you’re not alone: There’s been plenty of conflicting views over the years.
According to the FDA and EPA, these are the safest low-mercury fish and seafood for pregnant and breastfeeding women to eat.
To reduce your exposure to mercury, don't eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish. Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring and trout contain high levels of omega 3 fats. Fish is loaded with baby-friendly DHA! Follow this link for more advice regarding eating fish from the FDA.
As long as you avoid fish known to be high in mercury or contaminated with pollutants, seafood can be a regular part of your healthy-eating plan during pregnancy.Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
While pregnant women can get omega-3 fatty acids from many sources, most experts recommend eating seafood for this purpose.Though mercury can harm a developing baby's brain, eating average amounts of seafood containing low levels of mercury during pregnancy hasn't been shown to cause problems. For Women Who Are or Might Become Pregnant, Breastfeeding Mothers, and Young ChildrenFish and other protein-rich foods have nutrients that can help your child’s growth and development. August 8, 2018 Last year, when I was pregnant with Zephaniah the healthy foods I used to love eating were homemade salads, cottage cheese, asparagus, and sweet potatoes. The groups released joint statements encouraging moms to eat more pregnancy-safe fish in 2014 and again in 2017.Though the benefits of fish are many, you should still avoid a few types during pregnancy. This should help you snack less between meals – especially on foods that are high in fat and sugar. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.
An official website of the United States government Safe Fish And Their Quantities To Consume During Pregnancy