Omega 3 during pregnancy

Pregnancy demands a lot from your body. Taking good care of yourself and eating healthy is important. One of the nutrients that contributes to your health is omega 3. Why is omega 3 good for you when you are pregnant? And what exactly do these omega 3 fatty acids do? You can read that and more in this blog.

You did it! You are going to bring a little miracle into the world. A pregnancy is one of the most beautiful things that can happen to you, but it also demands a lot from you. Your body changes and is working hard. In short, you could use some extra care and love. Not only for yourself, but also for the baby. In addition to your healthy lifestyle and diet, supplements can support you well. Omega 3, for example.

Various omega 3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats are good for you. There are a number of important forms of omega-3, namely:

ALA (alpha-linolenic acid): the form of omega 3 found mainly in vegetable oil;

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid): a fish fatty acid;

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid): this omega-3 variant can also be found in fish.

The main difference between these fats is that ALA is a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid, while EPA and DHA are fish fatty acids. In small amounts, EPA and DHA can be produced in your body from ALA. ALA, on the other hand, is not produced by the body itself and must be obtained purely from external sources. You can absorb omega-3 fatty acids from food and from additional supplements.

Omega 3 Supplements During Pregnancy

Supplements such as folic acid and calcium are often recommended to take during your pregnancy. However, it is not crazy to also ensure that you get enough omega-3 fatty acids. Through your diet, or in addition to that, via a supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids have many different health effects. Let's zoom in on the omega-3 fatty acid DHA:

Your brain : DHA helps keep your brain functioning normally*. This is not specific during pregnancy, but in general. DHA is an important building block for your brain and therefore plays a role in the functioning of your brain.

Your baby's brain : Your DHA intake as a pregnant or breastfeeding woman contributes to the normal brain development of your baby**.

Your vision : DHA supports the condition of your eyes*.

Your baby's vision : Your mother's intake of DHA contributes to the normal development of the eyes of the unborn child and of a breastfed child**.

* The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250 mg DHA.

**The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 200 mg DHA in addition to the recommended daily intake for omega-3 fatty acids for adults of 250 mg DHA and EPA.

Is eating fish not an option for you?

Although ALA can be found in all kinds of plant products, such as vegetable oil, EPA and DHA are mainly found in fatty fish. And that is exactly where things go wrong for pregnant women: fatty fish is tricky during pregnancy, because you cannot safely eat all types. For example, it is better not to eat tuna, mackerel, sardines or eel. And it is also better to leave crab and shrimp out of your diet during pregnancy. These sea creatures may contain harmful amounts of mercury, dioxins or other chemicals. Fortunately, there are other solutions to get omega 3, namely through (plant-based) supplements.

Plant-based Omega 3 Supplements During Pregnancy

Do you not eat animal products or is fish simply not your cup of tea? Then an additional supplement is a great solution. Ovabalance offers an omega 3 supplement with DHA based on algae oil. A completely plant-based supplement and suitable for anyone who prefers not to eat fish products.

OvaBalance has chosen algae oil because it is the source of omega 3 for fish. Fish contain so much DHA because their diet mainly consists of algae. By making a supplement based on these algae, we prevent animal suffering and are a little kinder to the planet. So as a pregnant woman, you can take OvaBalance omega 3 with peace of mind. An additional advantage: you will not be bothered by an unpleasant fishy taste after taking your omega-3 supplement. A win-win situation for every pregnant woman.

The daily dosage of OvaBalance Omega 3 Algae Oil is 1-2 capsules. This gives you 200-400 mg DHA per day. Do not take more than the recommended dosage.

Are you worried that you are taking too much or too little omega 3? Talk to your midwife and read our blog about omega 3 dosage .

Want to get the most out of your body during your pregnancy? Then take a look at the pregnancy bundles from OvaBalance.