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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

will my baby be less intelligent if I don't eat fish?

23 replies

camis8 · 30/01/2006 11:39

my mum just handed me an article in the daily mail with the title, 'Fish in pregnancy makes brainier babies' cos I'm trying to get pregnant at the moment.

apparently if you don't eat fish like herrings and sardines your child is likely to have a lower IQ. but these fish have mercury and polution in them and I hate them anyway!

I hav read about a fish oil supplement called mumomega and see that some of you take it. Will this solve the problem? I really need to find a way to get hold of the omega-3 that works!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Enid · 30/01/2006 11:45

I bought some hemp seed and flax oil at the weekend for this very purpose

it is bloody horrible

I stirred it into drinking yogurt and still threw it up (am 27 wks pg)

mummysandy · 30/01/2006 12:01

Hi, I just googled mumomega and it's made by the same people that do the eye q for children (the one that has been used by LEAs in trials and shown to work). There is more information about the mumomega on their web page www.equazen.com/default.aspx?pid=33

expatinscotland · 30/01/2006 12:07

No. Some very, very intelligent people were born to mums who didn't eat any fish during their pregnancies.

Intelligence is dependent on a number of factors.

Like Enid, I tried to take flax seed oil and it gave me the boak. I took fish oil supplements and I could taste fish oil hours later and it gave me the boak.

Adass · 30/01/2006 13:27

I took omega 3 with my first child and am taking it now (amost due second) I used MorDHA from heathly and essential which comes very highly rated and has lemon oil in it so no nasty repeats - and I swear that taking it was the reason my dd could hold her head up as soon as she was born plus she is soooo brainy already and is only 15 months (Na surely I am not bias!! )
\link{http://www.healthyandessential.co.uk/shop/}

runtus · 30/01/2006 13:32

I worried about this tioi as I have never eaten fish (horrid, smelly stuff that it is) so now I take special pregnancy pills that include the Omega 3 oils and I have switched to 'clever milk' that has added Omega 3. Just buy it from Sainsburys............

If that doesn't do the trick, we will just have to live with a child as dim as me!

edam · 30/01/2006 13:40

The Food Standards Agency says women of child-bearing age should eat max. two portions of oily fish a week, to get the nutrients without the heavy metal pollution. That includes salmon, mackerel, trout, herring, fresh tuna, sardines, pilchards, eels. Supplements are made from fish so you've got the same risks and balances re pollution and nutrients there.

You can get flax seed oil capsules (veggie source of omega 3) rather than trying to drink the stuff. Or buy bread that is made with linseeds (same thing).

Essential fatty acids are important for brain and heart function. Called essential because your body can't make them, you have to get them from your diet. So yes, I think it's worth your while adding them to your diet.

chjlly · 30/01/2006 13:43

I can't stand fish & have never really eaten it both ds & dd seem to be bright enough (too bright sometimes )
I didn't take any supplements either

kayzed · 30/01/2006 15:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

camis8 · 30/01/2006 17:26

thanks for all the advice

have been to Boots and the pharmacist recommended mumomega. I checked about the evening primrose oil and she said she had not ever heard about the ripening of the cervix (where did you hear this kayzed?) and that evening primrose oil has been recommended to pregnant women for years as it can regulate hormones. I also checked this with a friend who is training to be a midwife and she said evening primrose oil is something a lot of midwives recommend although fish oil is thought to have more benefits for the baby.

just need to get pregnant now!!

OP posts:

mummysandy · 30/01/2006 17:42

Good luck camis8... am in the same boat!

khatri · 30/01/2006 17:43

I was recommended mumomega too and took it throughout my pregnancy. My midwive recommended it as its important to have both omega 3 and omega 6 to support the development of the child. The midwive gave me a really good pink brochure that explained it all. Why don't you ask your midwife about it or call the mumomega support line the number of the box is 0870 241 5621. All the best.

Piffle · 30/01/2006 17:43

my ds is a genius and I was fish excluding vegetarian when preg with him

kreamkrackers · 30/01/2006 20:16

i also heard not to take evening primrose oil until after 32 weeks, can't remember where from though. but it's for the same reason as kayzed gave.

Aloha · 30/01/2006 20:26

Camis/Enid, you should take capsules, then you don't taste anything at all. Mumomega or MiniIQ. Easy as taking a paracetemol. Or Zita West supplements. They are fantastic.

Aloha · 30/01/2006 20:27

www.healthyandessential.com (or co.uk?) are a very reliable supplier IME.

ShaysMummy · 30/01/2006 20:28

i always thought it aided brain development not how brainy the child is.

Aloha · 30/01/2006 20:30

Actually the studies do show a link between dha and intelligence. So the brain development includes intelligence. it is one of the reasons why breastfeeding is linked with higher IQs.

kayzed · 30/01/2006 21:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kayzed · 30/01/2006 21:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

4blue1pink · 30/01/2006 21:23

I watched an indepth show that said inexplicably vegetarians levels of omega3 are just as high as fish eaters.....

My kids are all extremely bright!

khatri · 30/01/2006 21:32

Alona, you're right. That was all in this pink brochure about the science behind mumomega. It was really interesting had information about post natal depression linked to fish consumption, childrens IQ and all sorts. I give my other child the eye q product which has been used in classroom trials. When i found out that mumomega is made by the same people I felt really assured. This brochure covered all this stuff. I really recommend getting a copy.

In fact, when i got a copy of their magazine they were giving out free samples of their mumomega infancy product for 6months to 2 years upon request. Give them a call if you want one.

Caligula · 30/01/2006 21:32

I thought this was another Cod thread...

santasnymph · 31/01/2006 11:25

From all the reports I?ve read it?s clear that having more fish during pregnancy is important and does help our children?s intelligence because they function in the brain to make us more focused and alert. They help with the development in a baby?s brain so its pretty likely that a lack of it will influence intelligence.

I am vegetarian but had so much trouble in eating the right foods that I decided to do some research which led me to take a supplement and add more and more of the right foods into my diet. I found in one of the reports that women have a higher ability above men to convert the parent omega fat into DHA and they concluded that this is because DHA is very important for pregnancy. It really is a fascinating subject.

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