Eating Fish While Pregnant is Recommended

The amount of fish during pregnancy to eat recommended by experts is 12 ounces = About 2–3 servings a week.

Eating Fish While Pregnant: Are You Eating Enough Seafood?

Pregnant women are nowhere close to eating as much seafood as they should. Why? Maybe you’ve heard the wrong information on the news. Maybe something in the paper has you confused. But when you turn to the experts, the advice is really simple and clear.

Eating Fish During Pregnancy

Official Guidelines and Experts Say:

• Eat seafood at least two to three times each week
• Eat a variety of fish
• As much as half (six ounces) of fish each week can be albacore tuna
• The only fish to avoid are shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tile fish

 

What’s it like to be a seafood lover who’s pregnant?

Well, if that’s you, perfect! Pregnancy is one of the best times to indulge your love of fish. Here’s why:

• Seafood is tasty and craveable
• Studies show eating fish during pregnancy gives moms and babies lots of health benefits
• Seafood is easy to make and a natural “fast food”

Types of Seafood and Fish to Eat While Pregnant

Most popular types of seafood (3 ounces)	Average mercury level below the FDA limit	Omega-3 DHA fats (milligrams)*
Salmon	Yes	1238
Canned White Tuna	Yes	535
Pollock	Yes	383
Crab	Yes	196
Canned Light Tuna	Yes	190
Scallops	Yes	169
Cod	Yes	131
Clams	Yes	124
Shrimp	Yes	122
Tilapia	Yes	111
Catfish	Yes	109

Best Foods to Eat While Pregnant

You are what you eat. And when you’re pregnant, you and your baby are what you eat. Choosing the right foods now can make a big difference in your baby’s growth and health. Aim to eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. This means foods that are full of vitamins and minerals without being too high in calories. The nutrients below are especially important when you’re pregnant and all can be easily found in foods like fish.

Pregnancy Diet: Powerhouse Nutrients

	OMEGA-3 DHA	CALCIUM	VITAMIN D	IRON
WHAT IT IS AND WHY YOU NEED IT	Special kind of healthy fat that helps build your baby’s brain and eyes May prevent pre-term (early) labor and depression during and after pregnancy Keeps your heart healthy	Helps build your baby’s bones and teeth, heart, nerves and muscles Keeps your bones and teeth strong	Helps your body absorb nutrients like calcium May lower your chance of getting high blood pressure during pregnancy	Helps carry oxygen in your bloodstream to your baby Can keep your immune system healthy Most moms-to-be begin their pregnancies without enough iron in their diets
HOW MUCH YOU NEED EACH DAY	200 milligrams	1,000 milligrams	200 (+) IU	27 milligrams
WHAT YOU SHOULD EAT	Fish like salmon, canned or pouch tuna, sardines, trout and anchovies Fortified foods like DHA-eggs	Dairy like yogurt, cheese and milk Seafood like canned sardines and salmon Greens like spinach and kale	Fish like salmon, shrimp and canned or pouch tuna Fortified foods like milk and orange juice	Meats like turkey, beef and chicken Seafood like clams, halibut, crab, shrimp and cooked oysters Beans like red and kidney

Can You Eat Sushi While Pregnant?

Many pregnant women may be concerned about eating sushi while pregnant. To reduce your chance of getting sick from food, you shouldn’t eat any raw meats during pregnancy.

Sushi is tasty, nutritious and fun; just make sure to stick with cooked types when you’re pregnant.

There are many types of cooked sushi—just look for the ‘cooked’ sticker when shopping in your grocery store or ask your server when dining out.

If you are counting down the days to when you can “go raw,” set a dinner date with your partner for a few weeks after the baby arrives.