If you\u2019re pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, you may have heard of DHA. But what is DHA and how much is recommended to take during pregnancy? This article will explore the importance of DHA for maternal and fetal health during pregnancy.<\/p>\n
DHA is an acronym<\/a>\u00a0for docosahexaenoic acid (no wonder it\u2019s abbreviated!). It is one of the essential Omega-3 fatty acids your body needs to function, and your baby needs to grow and develop during pregnancy.<\/p>\n For an in-utero baby, Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA are important nutrients because they play an essential role in a baby\u2019s development, such as the brain and eyes.<\/p>\n During pregnancy or nursing, babies rely on the mother\u2019s body to provide the necessary DHA. Yet, most people do not get enough DHA in their everyday diets, as it\u2019s primarily found in fatty fish like salmon, anchovies, and herring. While tuna is also rich in DHA, pregnant women are cautioned to limit albacore tuna to under 6 oz. a week due to potentially high mercury levels.<\/p>\n Given the crucial role of DHA in supporting pregnant mothers and their babies, if you don\u2019t like eating fish you may want to consider a fish oil or DHA supplement.<\/p>\n If you are trying to conceive, doctors recommend that you start taking a\u00a0prenatal supplement<\/a>\u00a0containing folic acid before you get pregnant. If you\u2019re\u00a0trying to get pregnant<\/a>, it\u2019s also important to monitor ovulation and\u00a0pinpoint your most fertile days<\/a>. Your doctor may also suggest eating fish (within the recommended amounts) to help get DHA.<\/p>\n If your pregnancy was unplanned, start taking a prenatal supplement as soon as you know you are pregnant.\u00a0FIRST RESPONSE\u2122 Early Result Pregnancy Test<\/a>\u00a0can tell you whether you\u2019re pregnant 6 days sooner than the day of your missed period.1<\/sup><\/p>\n The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Food and Drug Administration recommend eating two to three, 4 oz. servings of cooked fish or shellfish containing Omega-3 fatty acids per week (8\u201312 ounces total) before getting pregnant,\u00a0while pregnant, and during breastfeeding<\/a>. It\u2019s important to choose from a variety of seafood that are lower in mercury.\u00a0This chart<\/a>\u00a0from the FDA can help you choose which fish to eat, and it\u2019s advisable to talk to your doctor about which types of fish and seafood are safe to consume during pregnancy.<\/p>\n If fish dinners aren\u2019t regularly on your menu or you have other concerns, you can find DHA in some prenatal vitamins. There are also plenty of Omega-3 fatty acid or fish oil supplements available that contain DHA, providing docosahexaenoic acid for pregnancy. Make sure you check with your doctor before starting any supplement regimen.<\/p>\n Looking for more support along the way? Explore our other\u00a0pregnancy articles<\/a>\u00a0for helpful guidance and insights.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, you may have heard of DHA. But what is DHA and how much is recommended to take during pregnancy? This article will explore the importance of DHA for maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. What is the Meaning of DHA? DHA is an acronym\u00a0for docosahexaenoic acid (no […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pregnancy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=823"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":824,"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823\/revisions\/824"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firstresponse.robinsweb.net\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Why is DHA Important, Especially During Pregnancy?<\/h2>\n
When to Start Taking DHA Supplements During Pregnancy<\/h2>\n
How Much DHA During Pregnancy is Recommended?<\/h2>\n
Can You Take Fish Oil While Pregnant?<\/h3>\n
1<\/sup>\u00a0FIRST RESPONSE\u2122 Early Result detects the pregnancy hormone 6 days sooner than the day of your missed period (5 days before the day of expected period).<\/small><\/h6>\n
Source:\u00a0American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists<\/a>,\u00a0U.S. Food & Drug Administration<\/a><\/h6>\n
The content provided on this page is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.<\/h6>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"