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Moms & Babies

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Alaska Seafood for Healthy Moms and Babies During Pregnancy

When a woman is pregnant or lactating, it is vital that her diet include enough DHA to ensure optimal brain, eye, immune and nervous system for her developing baby.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, are essential fats that must be consumed in the diet as our bodies cannot produce these on their own. Consuming enough omega-3’s can also lower an infant’s chances of developing asthma or other allergic conditions. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids play a role in the length of gestation and in preventing perinatal depression.

  • The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is especially important for expectant mothers and developing babies.
  • DHA remains important beyond delivery as DHA is critical for brain development from pregnancy until the age of two.
  • Guidelines recommend that women consume 200 mg per day of DHA during pregnancy/breastfeeding.
  • Consuming at least four ounces of seafood rich in omega-3’s, twice per week to meet the needs of both mom and baby.
  • Diets should include wild Alaska seafood sources high in omega-3’s such as salmon, sablefish, herring, crab, and rockfish,
  • Many Alaska seafood species are low in mercury, and are also high in selenium, which prevents mercury from acting in the body.

Alaska Seafood and Infant Nutrition

The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is essential for the growth and development of a baby’s central nervous system, brain, and the retina in utero.

Infants and toddlers should consume optimal levels of DHA through breastmilk and a diet containing foods rich in DHA including wild Alaska salmon, sablefish, herring, crab, and rockfish at least twice a week.

  • Adequate DHA consumption improves visual acuity as well as cognitive development in children.
  • The third trimester is when the most significant amount of brain development occurs, and DHA is transferred at an even higher rate from mother to baby.
  • For optimal DHA intake, a mother should consume 200 mg of DHA per day during pregnancy/ breastfeeding.
  • Infants and toddlers should also consume optimal levels of DHA through breastmilk and a diet containing foods rich in DHA.
  • Including wild Alaska seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, sablefish, herring, rockfish, and cod at least twice a week will help to ensure optimal brain, nerve and retinal development in children.

Learn more about the Benefits of Alaska Seafood.

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