Omega-3 & Calcium Supplements for Pregnancy

Most nutrients come from the foods you eat, but getting a consistent healthy diet may be challenging; therefore, healthcare providers recommend supplements that contain daily vitamins and minerals to support your body before and during pregnancy.

As a developing baby depends on mom for all nutritional needs, prenatal vitamins play an important role in providing adequate nutrition throughout the pregnancy. Nutrition goals should begin when planning a pregnancy. If the pregnancy is already confirmed before starting a prenatal vitamin, it may be four to six weeks behind nutritional targets.

It’s recommended not to stop taking fish oil throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. A baby’s brain grows the fastest in the last trimester of pregnancy and the first two years after birth. Remember, EPA and DHA are essential nutrients – the body can’t make them or store them. The only way for a baby to get Omega-3s EPA and DHA, which are vital nutrients for a growing brain, is through breastmilk or formula. When breastfeeding, the baby gets priority to the mother’s omega-3s because the baby’s brain is growing so fast. If there aren’t enough omega-3s in a mother’s diet, the mom could be left with an omega-3 insufficiency. If breastfeeding isn’t an option for you, choose a formula high in EPA and DHA.   

When choosing a prenatal vitamin, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider. They can review your choices with you and determine which vitamins are needed to best support both you and your baby. It’s important to not only get the correct nutrients, but the correct amounts of nutrients.

There are many multivitamins on the market, it is recommended to consult your healthcare provider to determine which one would best support your individual needs.

There are many multivitamins on the market, it is recommended to consult your healthcare provider to determine which one would best support your individual needs.

When choosing a prenatal vitamin, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider. They can review your choices with you and determine which vitamins are needed to best support both you and your baby. It’s important to not only get the correct nutrients, but the correct amounts of nutrients.

340mg is the magic number; the best fish oil supplement for pregnancy should have at least 340mg of Omega-3s. A study collected data from over 11,000 pregnant women during and after their pregnancies. The study compared developmental, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes of their children from ages 6-months to 8-years. The results were astonishing! The children of the women that consumed less than 340mg of EPA and DHA per week were at the lowest achievement segment for verbal IQ, fine motor skills, and speed of information processing. Another study completed at the University of Kansas reports that infants born to mothers with higher blood levels of DHA at delivery had advanced levels of attention spans well into their second year of life. During the first 6 months, these infants were 2 months ahead of babies whose mothers had lower DHA levels.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an intake of 1.5 2.0 grams of elemental calcium per day from 20 weeks’ gestation until the end of pregnancy. While pregnant, supplementing with calcium isn’t just to make sure that the baby is getting proper nutrients for their development, it’s also to make sure that the mother is getting the calcium needed to support all her biological changes. For more information, visit our Guide to Calcium in Pregnancy.

EPA and DHA are the ONLY Omega-3s that are useful in the body. Supplements heavy in EPA and DHA fish oil for pregnancy health benefit both the mother and baby. They can also benefit your child during infancy and childhood with proven problem-solving skills and overall well-being. For more information, visit our Guide to Omega-3 in Pregnancy.