Can
I eat fish during my pregnancy? Yes you can, although there are some fish which you will want to steer clear of altogether. Why would you want to steer clear of eating fish during pregnancy? They are loaded with all the good nutrients, such as:
All of the above are essential for your baby's development. However, there is a down side to fish as well. Almost every kind of fish – including shellfish - contains trace amounts of methylmercury. Methylmercury is a compound which is known to be harmful in high doses to an unborn developing nervous system.
Generally it is the larger predator fish which accumulate the highest levels of methylmercury.
How much fish can I eat during my pregnancy?
In March 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new guidelines for how women who are trying to conceive, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children can limit their exposure to mercury in fish. They now recommend that you eat no more than 6-12 ounces a week of canned "light" tuna and other cooked fish. Other fish which is safe
to be consumed twice a week include:
Salmon in all forms, except from the Great Lakes Farmed trout Sardines Herrings Pilchards Flounder and sole Farmed cat fish, stripped bass and tilapia Cod Haddock Mahi mahi Perch Crab, shrimp, scallops, clams, oysters, mussels, crayfish
Of course, there are some fish which you should completely avoid altogether.
Shark Swordfish King mackerel Tilefish (golden or white snapper) Tuna steak (fresh or frozen) Spanish mackerel Marlin Grouper Large and small mouth Bass Walleye Northern Pike Lake Whitefish Salmon from the Great Lakes Bowfin Gar Toxic species such as pufferfish (fugu), blowfish and sea squab
These fish are at the top of the food chain – and that usually means that they contain the highest levels of mercury.
There are of course many other tasty fish which are safer to eat. Salmon, rainbow trout, and canned mackerel, all contain low levels of mercury and are high in healthy fats. The FDA considers these fish safe for pregnant women to eat twice a week.
Sign up now, and recieve Weekly updates on how your pregnancy & your baby are developing. Including pictures, nutritional advice, info on symptoms and complications and so much more!
Stages Of Labor
There are three distinct stages of labor, and your experience with each will be very different. Find out more of what you can expect....
Glucose Tolerance Test
It is not uncommon for a health care provider to recommend that you have a glucose screening test. This test is carried out to determine if.....
Childcare Choices
Going back to work and spending time away from your baby can be stressful enough and trying to find the right creche or childcare facility....
Asthma While Pregnant
If you are one of the many women that suffer from asthma, you may be concerned about how this ailment of yours will affect your unborn child.
Can
I eat fish during my pregnancy? Yes you can, although there are some fish which you will want to steer clear of altogether. Why would you want to steer clear of eating fish during pregnancy? They are loaded with all the good nutrients, such as: 
Shark
