Should Pregnant Women Eat Fish?

Many people, especially expectant mothers are concerned over eating seafood due to toxins in the water such as mercury. It is true as evidence of studies by the Food and Drug

Administration that mercury can have adverse effects on the developing fetus. However, is there a safe way to include fish in a pregnant women's diet.

Seafood can be an important part of a balanced diet for expectant mothers. High in quality protein and nutrients and low in fat makes it a good selection. Fish are also a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to fetus development.

In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency put out a joint advisory with the recommendations that pregnant women and nursing mothers should eat no more than 12 ounces of fish and shellfish a week to prevent developmental problems in their babies or young children caused by toxins in seafood. It recommended not eating swordfish, shark, and tilefish of king mackerel and not to eat the same type of fish or shellfish more than once a week.

A study done in 2006 found that pregnant women who ate fish that contained small amounts of mercury did not harm the development of their children. This may change the warnings issued in 2004 against eating certain fish caught in specific waters. State governments have issued 2,000 advisories warning for women and children against eating fish caught in certain waters due to contamination. Where fish are caught has a lot to do with the levels of toxins. Fish caught in one area of a river or ocean can differ in levels of toxins if any at all.

So how does mercury get into fish? Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and it can be released into the air by industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air onto the water surface and accumulates in rivers and oceans. Mercury is transformed into methlmercury, which can become toxic by combining with bacteria in the water. Aquatic organisms, which fish feed on, absorb methlmercury.

There are ways to avoid levels of mercury that could be harmful to the development of the fetus. Almost all fish contain some form of methlmercury that is not harmful. The problem is larger fish that feed on smaller fish accumulate higher levels of methlmercury and pose the greatest risk. To be cautious in protecting your unborn child you should not eat large fish such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tile fish. The major danger of methlmercury in fish to the unborn child is to their developing nervous system.

Other forms of fish can be included in the diet. You can eat 12 ounces per week of cooked fish. The typical serving is 3 to 6 ounces. The selection of canned fish, shellfish, small ocean fish, or farm raised fish as long as you eat a variety of different species.