Fish Oil During Pregnancy

Fish oil during pregnancy and throughout preconception can help insure a sound pregnancy, a healthy baby and a pleasant postpartum experience. Ideally, concentrated fish oil, within a dietary plan that includes a 1:4 ratio of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acid would be taken from preconception through postpartum. Of course balancing omega-3 fatty acids with omega-6 fatty acids is a good idea throughout life, but it is essential during pregnancy for the development of the baby and the health of the mother.

Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency has been linked with complications during pregnancy, labor and post-partum. Omega-3 fatty acids are responsible for the following in regards to the developing fetus:

• vision development in the fetus and infant
• nerve development in the fetus and infant
• brain development in the fetus and infant

Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency has been associated with the following:

• miscarriage
• preterm labor
• low birth weight
• gestational diabetes
• post natal depression
• pregnancy-induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia

During pregnancy, the fetus draws enormous quantities of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from the mother through the placenta. The placenta actually contains receptors for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which shows that these are essential to the developing fetus, therefore fish oil during pregnancy may also be considered essential.

When breast feeding, a baby actually consumes 11 grams of EFAs daily. This is all pulled from the mother's body and this is why it's prudent to replenish EPA and DHA with fish oil during pregnancy. Pregnancy and breast feeding are both times when EFA stores are depleted. Studies have shown that if EFAs are not supplemented, then subsequent babies will have access to less EPA and DHA than their older siblings. This may explain why developmental issues are more prevalent in subsequent children.

The depletion of EFAs during pregnancy may also explain the higher incidence of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders in women, when compared to men. In Chinese medicine we view miscarriage, pregnancy and breast feeding as major jing depleting events in a woman's life. Therefore, when a woman experiences a miscarriage, we advise her to avoid pregnancy for a year, as her body rebuilds its strength. When it comes to pregnancy and breast feeding, generally we recommend weaning the baby and then spending a year or two nourishing the body before trying for another baby.

It appears that EFA deficiency and jing deficiency may be related. Chinese medicine recognizes the necessity of nourishing preconception care, pregnancy care and postpartum care. Therefore taking fish oil during pregnancy, as well as before and after may help build up EPA and DHA reserves.

Throughout Asia, women are cared for after they give birth for 1-2 months. Their one and only responsibility is to breast feed the baby. Household chores, cooking, caring for other children and outside work is all handled by friends, family and co-workers. It's remarkable the effect this practice has on the health and appearance of women. I've known women, who have had 6 children and look fit and healthy in their 50's. In Malaysia, it's a regular practice for women to eat "Ikan Bakar" or BBQ fish, which is often mackerel or some other fatty fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, for 40 days after giving birth. Needless to say, postpartum depression is rare in Malaysia.

The incidence of inflammatory conditions like PCOS, fibroids, and endometriosis is lower in many parts of Asia than in Europe, North America, and Australia. Also, in Asia it appears that menopause is often just the ending of the menstrual period. There doesn't appear to be the major hormonal imbalances that we so readily see in the West.

I believe that many of these imbalances are due in part to the way we care for ourselves as women, especially after giving birth. In the U.S., it's common to see women back at work or shopping in the mall within a week of giving birth. I believe that this lack of regard for the monumental act of giving birth will unfortunately have repercussions on a woman's health later in life.