Omega 3, because you're all very wise

[RainyWednesday]

Hello ladies

I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant and not eating any oily fish whatsoever. I'm therefore considering taking an omega 3 supplement. I already have a load of Pregnacare (or equivalent) tablets, so am a bit reluctant to buy another lot with the omega 3 bit in, particularly as this looks like it will cost £12+ a month.

I'm therefore thinking of getting these tablets. Can anyone tell me whether this is a bad idea? I've done a bit of research and the gist seems to be not to take fish liver oil, which I don't think these are. I was also going to take one a day rather than the recommended two, as this seems more in keeping with the amounts in the Pregnacare version.

Thanks

the special preg ones I've got contain 300mg DHA 20mg EPA and 6mg AA plus some vitamin E and Primrose oil. THe ones you suggested have different mix - 138mg DHA and 100mg EPA.

I am not sure what issue is here (think you're right on fish liver oil) but that looks quite a big difference but hopefully someone more knowledgeable can help.

Yeah, it's quite confusing! I can't find any with the same mix as the Pregnacare ones, but then I can't find anything that suggests how much EPA and DHA respectively is either good or bad!

The one that I linked to seemed to be the purest version they had on there and then I had a look at things they suggested for pregnancy and it was in there as well, which reassured me a bit! I suspect I should ask a doctor/midwife but not due to see a midwife now until the end of June ...

Thanks for the reply

what about asking a pharmacist? might be good compromise if you've got to wait a while.

Had same issue as you before switched to this brand as like you begrudge forking out yet another tenner (or more ) for vitamins.

Thanks StarlightMcKenzie that's really helpful, as I was a bit worried about the EPA being so much higher than the pregnancy ones.

Poppy34 I might ask a pharmacist .. the stupid thing is that my dad is a GP but I know that he will just tell me not to worry about it (he thinks I'm insane for eg not eating soft cheese)!

I might go for it

i asked the midwife about this today as i am on the pregnacare and had a different brand the last two times that i had to specially order that had the omega 3 dha in. anyway she said that dont recommend the omega 3 tablets and i should eat a balanced diet with fish in it (but not more than three portions a week of the ones with the mercury risk). i do usually eat alot of fish but have gone off it a bit with the sickness.

starlight is right i think. i read that theres no point having lots of one or the other, its the balance of omegas 3, 6 and 9 (in different proportions but cant remember what) that is of benefit. like the body needs the others to get the good out of any of them iyswim.
so boosting one or two of them might well be pointless?

tho i have NO references to back that up other than... 'i read somehwere'

mel2005 I know that getting something into your diet naturally is generally better than taking a supplement, but the fact is that I eat very little fish and am not going to, as (1) DH is veggie, so we eat very little meat or fish at all and (2) I've gone right off it!

Unless I can just use this as an excuse to chow down a load of smoked salmon every day - now that I could do ...

me tooo

there must be a lower dose omega3 tablet we can take. i might go and ask in boots tomorrow.

ah! thanks starlight

Cheers I am still very much an omnivore (sausages for tea ), it's just that having meat for dinner involves some faffing so it only happens a couple of times a week.

I am liking my smoked salmon plan more and more!