I would like to know what fish to avoid during pregnancy.

There are a lot of myths out there about the types of fish that women can eat whenever they are pregnant and in many instances most expectant mothers believe that they cannot even eat fish at all. This is entirely untrue and in fact pregnant women are encouraged by many experts and doctors to eat fish.

When you eat fish, it is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, iron and protein. All of these nutrients are extremely important to help your baby thrive and develop properly.

Does This Mean All Fish Are Safe To Eat?

Not exactly, as some fish contain high levels of mercury, which can be extremely dangerous for your baby. However, it is not always easy to know the mercury content of the fish you are about to eat, and therein lies the problem. Keep in mind that mercury is a toxic element that is naturally found in our environment, but also is caused by pollution. This is why just about any fish you eat will contain traces of mercury, but in most cases the amount is so minimal that it will typically have no affect on a normal adult or child. In general, the fish that contain the biggest traces of mercury are generally large, predatory fish that eat other fish. These are the types of fish that experts recommend pregnant women avoid eating.

Some examples of these fish include:

  • tilefish
  • shark
  • swordfish

How Much Fish Is Safe To Eat When You Are Pregnant?

The FDA recommends that pregnant women eat roughly 12 ounces of seafood a week. Research has shown that eating more seafood than this while pregnant, has not proven to be harmful for unborn babies. However, nothing as of yet has proven to be substantiated.

Basically, as with many things when you are pregnant, you are left to make the best decision for you and your baby, based on what is known. Therefore, it would be a good idea to follow the guidelines set forth by the FDA, just to be on the safe side

Safe Fish During Pregnancy

Some examples of safe fish that you can eat while you are pregnant include:

  • salmon
  • catfish
  • cod

You also want to avoid eating any type of raw fish, such as oysters or shellfish. Always prepare any fish that you eat properly and cook it to an internal temperature of 145°F.

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