Taking Fish Oil/EPO blend in first trimester?

[MamaFern]

I bought this really wonderful Wild Fish Oil and EPO blend a few months ago and had been taking it up till a few weeks before finding out i was pregnant (went away and kind of lost my momentum of taking supplements). i would like to continue now, but i can't seem to find anything saying it is safe in early pregnancy. I know that it is recommended for ripening the cervix come the third trimester.. any thoughts?

[Gingercat]

I've been taking Dr Mercola's Krill Oil with EPO for a couple of years now but once I got pregnant I started wondering whether EPO is safe during pregnancy so I emailed them and this is the response I got:

Thank you for your recent inquiry. We do not recommend taking Krill EPO while pregnant or breast feeding. This is due to the fact that the prostaglandins in the Krill for women are also used in higher levels to induce labor. The amounts in the Krill should not have this same effect but it is better to err on the side of caution. So we recommend regular Krill for pregnant or nursing women. We hope this information is helpful. If we can be of further assistance, please let us know. Have a happy and healthy day!

I'm not sure though why it is not recommended for breastfeeding (I've been taking it while breastfeeding for almost two years!) but once I finished the bottle while pregnant I switched to regular Krill Oil.

[is it puppies?]

I take Dr Mercola as well, and stopped taking the Krill with EPO for the second half of my cycle as soon as I started TTC, and taking the regular krill instead. I plan to switch back soon (I am 27 weeks) but I am not sure how soon, I have to look into it. I think I would also take it for BF, but again, I have to look into it more. I think it probably is bad to take the high doses in PG but the low ones are fine... but just in case I am avoiding it.

[Gingercat]

Originally Posted by is it puppies?

I take Dr Mercola as well, and stopped taking the Krill with EPO for the second half of my cycle as soon as I started TTC, and taking the regular krill instead. I plan to switch back soon (I am 27 weeks) but I am not sure how soon, I have to look into it. I think I would also take it for BF, but again, I have to look into it more. I think it probably is bad to take the high doses in PG but the low ones are fine... but just in case I am avoiding it.

I'm 27 weeks as well (we must be in the same DDC, correct?) and also wondering whether I should switch back to the Krill with EPO in late pregnancy as I noticed that many women here take EPO during the last few weeks. I'm wondering about the benefits, so I'd appreciate any brief information though I'm planning to research the issue more myself.

[ElizaS]

I've heard to avoid the fish oil because of the potential for mercury contamination --- which can cause brain defects in the baby.

[is it puppies?]

I've heard to avoid the fish oil because of the potential for mercury contamination --- which can cause brain defects in the baby.

That's why I think a lot of us take Krill instead of fish. Krill doesn't have the contaminates.

[QUOTE]
I'm 27 weeks as well (we must be in the same DDC, correct?) and also wondering whether I should switch back to the Krill with EPO in late pregnancy as I noticed that many women here take EPO during the last few weeks. I'm wondering about the benefits, so I'd appreciate any brief information though I'm planning to research the issue more myself.[QUOTE]

I don't remember you from the DDC but you must be in June, too! All I know is that EPO can help with cervical ripening- but I don't know anything else at this point. We can prob post on our DDC and ask and I bet as people start we can get the info- unless one of us gets our act together and starts to research it in the mean time

[claddaghmom]

What about New Chapter Wholemega?

[is it puppies?]

I think the new chapter is vegetable based? like Udo's oil. then it will be contaminate free.

[Gingercat]

Originally Posted by is it puppies?

I don't remember you from the DDC but you must be in June, too! All I know is that EPO can help with cervical ripening- but I don't know anything else at this point. We can prob post on our DDC and ask and I bet as people start we can get the info- unless one of us gets our act together and starts to research it in the mean time

Yes, I'll look more into this! The problem is that I'll be visiting my parents overseas soon for a few weeks and there I'll have a very slow internet connection

If EPO does help with cervical ripening then I'll think about taking it. But if it is used to "naturally" induce labour (as Mercola suggests) then I'd prefer not to take it; I was reading an article by Michel Odent a while back and he was saying that even natural ways of labour induction (e.g. castor oil) should be avoided as we should always let the baby decide when he/she wants to be born.

About the potential for mercury contamination of the fish oil, you can certainly find good quality fish oils out there that they are distilled and certified that they do not contain any contaminants (Carlson's is a brand that comes to mind). But I'd still choose Krill Oil as I have experienced substantial health benefits after I switched to this from fish/cod liver oil.

[weliveintheforest]

It wouldn't worry me, I'd probably continue to take it.

[trekkingirl]

what are the benefits of these oils generally and what is epo

[MamaFern]

thanks everyone..

EPO is evening primrose oil, and it and fish oils are high in essential fatty acids and vitamin E/D. later in pregnancy EPO helps ripen the cervix..

[HeatherB]

EPO doesn't induce labor, it only ripens the cervix. It's one of those things that's safe to take because it won't cause you to go into labor prematurely, only help things along if you're already ready.

My midwife recommends fish oil (I take Nordic Naturals which is free of the nasty stuff possibly found in cheaper versions) at least in the first two trimesters. Apparently, indigenous cultures who eat diets high in fatty fish tend to gestate longer, so there's some possibility that fish oil could lengthen gestation. So, she has recommended switching to EPO instead of fish oil at some point in the 3rd trimester.

[Gingercat]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

My midwife recommends fish oil (I take Nordic Naturals which is free of the nasty stuff possibly found in cheaper versions) at least in the first two trimesters. Apparently, indigenous cultures who eat diets high in fatty fish tend to gestate longer, so there's some possibility that fish oil could lengthen gestation. So, she has recommended switching to EPO instead of fish oil at some point in the 3rd trimester.

From what I read about fish oil it does not lengthen gestation but it ensures that you carry the baby full term.

Also the baby's brain is rapidly developing during the last trimester (as well as during the first two years of his life) so it's important to supplement with fish oil while pregnant and breastfeeding.

But I'll certainly look into the possibility of switching back to Krill Oil with EPO now that I'm on my last trimester.

[Paeta16]

I haven't read the replies, but I know taking Fish Oil is definitely safe while PG ...probably safer than eating most fish these days! However, EPO can cause uterine contractions so I'd be cautious about taking that in early pregnancy FWIW.

ETA: The EPO info came from my naturopath during my last pregnancy.

[mrsfru]

Mercury free fish oil is totally safe during the whole pregnancy (unless you are allergic to fish--then you should double check the sources). My high risk docs always have me take it, pregnant or not. It is actually "prescribed" for some of us w/clotting issues.

hths

mrsfru

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by Gingercat

Also the baby's brain is rapidly developing during the last trimester (as well as during the first two years of his life) so it's important to supplement with fish oil while pregnant and breastfeeding.

This is why I take it too while PG.

[mamaspirit]

I've been taking EPO since the begining of my pregnancy, per my midwives. They suggested it through my whole pregnancy because I have cervical scar tissue. At 34 weeks I will start inserting it vaginally along with taking it internally. It does not cause uterine contractions, it helps with the ripening of the cervix, but only when your body is already ready.

[Cayceemae]

dosage of epo?

just curious what dosage your midwife recommended for epo? my midwife told me to take it for dry skin.. i'm 16 weeks. but didn't say how much... and i can't seem to find any info on taking it during pregnancy.

[HeatherB]

If I recall, both fish oil and EPO are in the "you can't really take too much" category. I remember taking just as much as I could tolerate near the end of my previous pregnancies (the EPO, that is). With fish oil, my MW recommends at least 3g of total EFAs per day. That's often 3x the dosage on the bottle, or more.