The Truth About Omega-3s During Pregnancy

by Robin Jordan, CNM, PhD

What pregnant woman wouldn’t want to grow a smart baby, one that has every last genetically programmed fully functioning brain cell, is ahead of the preschool pack, becomes the straight-A class president, and attends an Ivy League university?

That might be a stretch. But research indicates that women who eat adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids—specifically DHA and EPA found in many fish and fish oils—have babies who have higher cognitive, verbal, and visual functioning than babies born to women with lower intakes of these fatty acids.

Additional benefits of consuming adequate DHA and EPA in pregnancy are higher infant birth weight and a reduction in risk of preterm birth. Research also supports a reduction in pregnancy hypertension and postpartum depression, and we’re not even getting into the gamut of health benefits for the general population! (Okay, a short list: decreased cardiovascular disease, hypertension and dementia, to name a few).

It all sounds easy, right? But it may not be that simple.

Separating Fact from Fiction

There are plenty of areas of confusion on omega-3s during pregnancy. A recent study making the news rounds does not support the findings of improved mental and visual function in offspring whose mothers consumed DHA and EPA supplements. There may be reasons for these results—or lack of. The researchers tested babies only up to 18 months old, and women’s prior patterns of DHA and EPA consumption were not taken into account. Now here’s where it gets confusing: the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in the diet could have played a role in study findings. Omega-3s compete for binding spots in the body with omega-6s, primarily linoleic acid (LA). LA is found in foods containing corn, soybean and safflower oils (think crackers, cakes, soda), and beef--foods that are consumed in overabundance in today’s typical diet. DHA and EPA compete with LA for receptor sites in the body. So if a woman has a diet high in LA rich foods, then the DHA and EPA she takes in might not be used by the body. When people eat less omega-6s, they can make huge increases in their body’s omega-3s!

The Mercury Conundrum

What about fish? Isn’t it full of mercury? Only certain kinds of fish like shark, mackerel, swordfish, and tilefish are high in mercury. Many others are perfectly safe to eat. Just know what they are! Dr. Joseph Hibblen, a researcher with the US Department of Public Health has stated that the benefits of eating fish during pregnancy far outweigh any risks of eating safe fish during pregnancy. Based on his analysis of other studies, he concluded that the effect of not eating enough fish in pregnancy appears to be a 5-6 IQ point difference! The general guideline of “up to” two fish meals per week is being challenged by experts as too low, that pregnant women (and the rest of us!) should be eating more.

We don’t know everything about omega-3s in pregnancy; however, we do know enough to conclude that DHA and EPA are important to pregnancy and fetal health. Who knows the difference a few IQ points can make!

Midwives and other health care professionals, read Robin’s article on the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA in the November/December issue of the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health.

Women, get more guidance on omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy from this free Share With Women handout.

How to Help Women and Children in Haiti

by Eileen Ehudin Beard, CNM, FNP
ACNM Senior Practice Advisor

The tragic situation in Haiti continues to send shock waves around the world. When you look at a picture of a young mother holding her newborn in the midst of chaos, you can’t be depressed about the economy or your 401K anymore. Those things don’t matter.

The knee-jerk reaction is to drop everything and hop a plane to Haiti, but, as we’ve all heard, that’s not the right thing to do in a disaster situation. Unless you prepare yourself mentally and physically you’ll be in a similar situation to the people you’re trying to help.

Many organizations are taking immediate action to help and are preparing to send teams of volunteers to Haiti when the time is right. Last week I participated in a conference call with representatives from ACNM, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). We agreed on the need for a particular focus on ensuring that women, infants, and children have access to the services that they need in camps and tent cities, and that they are protected from violence and sexual assault. The Cochrane Collaboration has published Evidence Aid, a Web site of up-to-date, relevant evidence to help people trying to cope with the aftermath of the disaster. Midwives for Haiti is organizing volunteer teams of health professionals to go to Haiti over the coming weeks and years that this country will need help.

If you are not trained to be a responder in a disaster, you can still help Haiti by donating money to a trusted organization. The Better Business Bureau has several resources and tips for choosing a legitimate charity. You can also view ratings of various organizations through Charity Navigator at www.charitynavigator.org. Please stay tuned to the Global Health Council for continuing updates on the situation in Haiti and a list of organizations that need your financial support.

WRA Reminds G8 to Pay Attention to Moms

As world leaders come together at the G8 meetings in Italy this week, the White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) has launched a new video and an Atlas of Birth to draw attention to the problem of maternal death during childbirth.


According to WRA, maternal death is the greatest health inequity of the 21st century. Every minute, a woman dies while giving birth. In fact, more women die in the developing world from pregnancy than from any other cause.

Earlier this week, certified nurse-midwife Anne Hyre, director of the ACNM Department of Global Outreach, joined WRA delegates to present a petition to the US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Health Issues from millions of health care workers urging action at the G8. What can you do to help? Join WRA (it’s free!), and remind world leaders of their promise to correct the scandalous state of global maternal health. Visit the White Ribbon Alliance online to learn more about how you can take action for the cause.

Image source: White Ribbon Alliance

Left to right: Catharine Taylor (WRA Board Member & Director of Maternal, Child Health and Nutrition at PATH); Anne Hyre (Director of Global Outreach at the American College of Nurse-Midwives); Betsy McCallon (Deputy Director of White Ribbon Alliance); Melanne Verveer (U.S. Department of State's Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues); Rachel Vogelstein (U.S. Department of State, Senior Policy Advisor); Jen Klein (U.S. Department of State).