Last week the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition released new recommendations for fish consumption by women who are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.  The new recommendations state that pregnant and breastfeeding moms should eat 12 ounces of fish (including salmon, tuna, and mackeral) a week, that is equal to two servings.

According to the new research, HMHB found that because of the confusing nature of the previous FDA recommendations regarding fish consumption during pregnancy, women were consuming less than recommended because they didn’t understand the recommendations.  Fish is the main source of an essential nutrient in cognitive development, omega-3 fatty acids.  Not consuming enough omega-3 can result in nutritional deficiancies in mother and baby.  The goal of these new recommendations is to increase a pregnant woman’s fish consumption to a level that will aid in the cognitive development of the fetus.

As with any new studies and recommendations it is best to discuss the results with your treating doctor and find out how they impact your specific pregnancy.  Fish can be high in mercury so it is important not to consume too much, and there are some fish, like shark and swordfish, that continue to be off limits for pregnant women.

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