For Izzy. Sorry I don't haave more time Izzy but here are just three of dozens. I am working on a blog "The Perfect Pregnancy" from a nutritional view, hop to publish within say 48 hours.
Hope we have enough room!|
Fish Oil in Pregnancy Helps Fetus Grow
Scientists have discovered that eating large amounts of fish during the later stages of pregnancy might increase fetus growth but doesn’t extend the duration of the pregnancy.
A study conducted involved 11,580 women who found the more fish they consumed at the 32-week mark in their pregnancy the lower the likelihood of restricted growth in the baby. One researcher stated these findings supported the data that increasing the intake of fish or omega-3 fatty acids while a woman was pregnant increased the fetal growth rate.
The women in the study were questioned on the amount of fish they ate and the levels of omega-3 fatty acids were then measured by the fish intake the pregnant women consumed.
Results from the study showed that women ate 33 grams of fish on average, which was equal to around one-third of a tiny can of tuna each day and to 0.15 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. Some experts have recommended fish as a rich source for omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered essential for cell function.
Some of the other sources of omega-three fatty acids include canola oil, flaxseed and flaxseed oil and nuts.
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health June 2004;58(6):486-92
Fish Oil in Pregnancy Treats Depression Risks
Eating omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood such as tuna, herring, salmon and sardines might stave off depression in pregnant women, both before and after childbirth.
The federal government has issued warnings to pregnant women about eating fish due to their potentially harmful levels of mercury, but government recommendations still allow eating up to 12 ounces a week of a variety of species.
In the study, researchers analyzed 11,721 British women. They found that women who consumed greater amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in seafood during the third trimester were less likely to show signs of major depression during pregnancy and for up to eight months after the birth.
Women with the highest intakes of omega-3, who consumed fish two or three times a week, were half as likely to suffer from depression as women with the lowest intakes.
According to researchers, the 12-ounce-a-week government recommendation would allow for two servings of fish per week. Salmon, catfish and scallops reportedly have very little mercury and fish-oil supplements are supposed to be mercury free.
About 10 percent of pregnant women--13 percent to 15 percent among new mothers--develop depression severe enough to interfere with their functioning.
Although studies looking at the risk of antidepressant drugs in pregnant and nursing women have showed low risk, there have been few studies about long-term effects.
The current research shows a strong correlation between low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and symptoms of depression, researchers said. However, further studies are needed to prove that boosting levels of fatty acids will fight depression.
Government warnings have urged pregnant women to avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish because they can contain high levels of mercury, which can damage the nervous system of the fetus. Additionally, fish may also pose other contamination risks. Researchers suggested that women follow local recommendations in regard to eating fish.
Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association; San Francisco, CA May 20, 2003
Defeating Depression: as Easy as Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, may hold the key to naturally easing depression.
In the past, studies have shown that in countries where large amounts of fish are consumed, rates of depression are low as compared with countries where little fish is consumed. This has led researchers to examine whether omega-3 fats found in the fish are responsible for the decreased evidence of depression.
One study followed patients with bipolar disorder. Half of the participants were given fish oil tablets and the other half received a placebo. After four months, half of those on the placebo had fallen into depression, but only two out the 15 people given fish oil were depressed.
Other studies have shown similar results indicating that omega-3 fatty acids may in fact relieve depression, and some psychiatrists are now recommending that their depressed patients increase their consumption of these fatty acids.
In addition to its positive effects on depression, studies have linked omega-3s with improved cardiovascular health, as well as shown them to be a potential prevention and treatment tool for certain cancers and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Omega-3 fatty acids have also proved beneficial to the development of babies’ brains; therefore, pregnant and breast-feeding women are encouraged to consume these fatty acids. However, eating fish as a source of omega-3s can be dangerous to pregnant mothers because of potentially high levels of mercury in the fish.
One side effect that may occur from consuming increased amounts of fatty acids through fish or fish-oil tablets is an increase in dyspepsia, or indigestion that may result in gas, though researchers point out that this has been the only side effect discovered.
Researchers noted that further studies need to be done to determine whether patients would benefit from an increase in omega-3s in combination with antidepressant drugs.
ABC News September 17, 2002
20 Percent of Pregnant Women Suffer From Depression
Although most women anticipate feeling good during pregnancy, close to one in five women show signs of depression during this time, according to a study.
Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression, and symptoms usually show up during the childbearing years, according to researchers. However, many women who experience depressive symptoms are reluctant to discuss them with their physicians.
Those with severe symptoms may benefit from antidepressants. Past studies have shown that women who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft, do not seem to be at an increased risk of having a baby with birth defects.
The current study involved 3,472 women who were an average of 25 weeks pregnant. Slightly more than 20 percent of the women showed signs of depression.
Of these women, 86 percent had not received any treatment. Further, only one-quarter of those who reported being depressed during the past six months were being treated for depression.
Previous preliminary studies suggest that untreated depressive symptoms may affect the fetus and result in low birth weight, early delivery and impaired brain development.
According to the study, 28 percent of the women had been clinically depressed at least once in their lifetime, and more than 40 percent of these women reported that the depressive symptoms returned during pregnancy.
Past studies have also found that women who have suffered from depression in the past are up to 50 percent more likely to experience post partum depression.
As reported in other findings, other factors associated with depression during pregnancy included poorer health overall, risky drinking behavior and smoking during pregnancy.
Journal of Women's Health May, 2003;12(4):373-380
(June 2006) (
