Fish oil has been shown to be beneficial to the health of a pregnant mother and her unborn child. Fish oil use has been linked to lower instances of pre-term labor and delivery. It also aids in the baby’s brain development because Omega-3s (a component of fish oil) is the building block for the nervous system. Mothers who take fish oil while breastfeeding saw significant improvement their infant’s motor development in the first 30 months of life.

The problem is that mothers are often encouraged to avoid fish oil rich foods due to high levels of potentially hazardous toxins. Large fish that are high up on the food chain can contain mercury, PCB, dioxins and other toxins. Healthy women who are not pregnant don’t need to avoid these foods because at the relatively low doses of toxins the benefits of eating fish far outweigh the harm. For pregnant women, however, even low doses of these chemicals can complicate pregnancy.  That is why pregnant women should take fish oil supplements. Fish oil tablets provide the benefits of fish oil without the risk of toxic exposure to the infant. Before adding fish oil supplements during pregnancy, consult a physician.