[hubris]

My brain is feeling spinny. Can somebody reassure me that they've pondered this stuff and found a solution that seems right for a pregnant mama?

: My midwife would like me to start taking a balanced EFA supplement. Not just DHA (omega-3) but a 3/6/9 blend.

: BUT I have a gag reflex from hell and all the blend pills are humongous. They're just not going to work for me. So question #1: are there small pills? I would gladly take a dozen tiny ones instead of 2 huge ones.

: We talked about the possibility of taking cod liver oil instead, BUT that's just an omega-3, right? PLUS is cod liver oil contraindicated for pregnancy due to high vitamin A content?

: Also, why a blend instead of just DHA? My understanding is that omega-3 is the one that may be deficient during pregnancy and women are encouraged to take omega-3 to correct the balance of 3 and 6. Would taking a balanced 3/6/9 supplement still be right, since it would be balanced within itself but not necessarily balanced with whatever omega-6 is already in your diet? So question #2: is an EFA blend really necessary, or should I only take an omega-3 supplement. Or, alternatively, take a DHA supplement plus an omega-6 like evening primrose oil?

: It seems so much easier to just eat fish, except that the stupid polluting humans of the world have messed up the fish population, so now we tell preggo women to avoid eating them. Argh.

I just get so frustrated with this stuff. We've screwed up the planet, so we tell pregnant women not to eat certain foods because they're contaminated. But then we tell them that their diet isn't balanced because they're not eating that food, and now they need supplements. Anybody else think this is crazy? If I'm eating a varied, healthy diet with lots of whole grains and fresh fruits and veggies, a variety of sources of fats and proteins (dairy/legumes/nuts/meat), and not terribly heavy on meat, shouldn't that be enough?

:

 

[g&a]

You should post int he nutrition section. I bet some of the NT people there would have specific answers on the 3-3/6/9 dilemma. I for one would love to know the answer.

You can get EFAs in liquid form. No pills at all to swallow, just a tablespoon of oil. It's not as gross as it sounds. I put it in smoothees for my daughter and no one even knows they're there.

g.

 

[PiePie]

i have been taking fish oil supplements, except when i had really bad morning sickness and couldn't stomach them.

i finished the bottle and am switching to cod liver oil supplements. i know about the concerns about excess vitamins a and d during pregnancy, i was going to post here today, but according to the bottle i would have to be taking a lot of clo (more than 4 pills) to get more than 100% of the rda. would like to hear other's thoughts on this. also, i know some people take clo to induce. is it okay to take it in pill form when i don't want to induce? will call mw today to ask.

i would be loathe to take epo because some women use it to induce?

 

[hubris]

Thanks, I'll ask in nutrition about 3 vs. 3/6/9. I thought I'd ask here first because of the specific issues regarding pregnancy, gag reflex, etc.

Induction-wise, the oils aid in prostaglandin production. If your body isn't ready to give birth, my understanding is that it shouldn't put you into labor. That's the beauty of *most* natural induction techniques - they enhance natural labor but don't totally screw things up. (I think the cohoshes are a big exception to that)

I haven't heard of cod liver oil being used for induction (doesn't mean it isn't, I just hadn't heard it), but I have heard of women taking castor oil. I think it increases intestinal activity, which can jump-start uterine contractions. Again, that's if your body is ready to go into labor. If it's not, you'll just have really uncomfortable intestines and diarrhea.

 

[naturemama1]

I take cod liver oil. I certainly don't worry about omega-6, since Americans usually get 25-50 times too much compared to omega-3 as it is. I haven't done that much research into omega-9 -- I would be interested to hear what that's for!

You have to be sure to get a brand that uses natural vitamin A. Many brands of CLO deodorize their oil to get rid of the strong "fishy" odor, which strips out the Vitamins A and D, and then they replace them with synthetic versions. (!!!) Too much synthetic Vitamin A is a particular concern during pregnancy, as it can cause birth defects. There has never been a study showing any Vitamin A toxicity with natural Vitamin A, however, and studies of societies with diets heavy in natural food sources of Vitamin A show that they consume up to 10 times our US RDA of it with no ill effects during pregnancy.

So "fishy" CLO is a good thing. I can't stand how strong that is, so I buy it in capsule form (I order the Blue Ice brand) and keep the bottle in the fridge. OTOH, I buy the liquid form for my kids, and despite practically gagging when I open the bottle, I hide it in their stronger foods (like pesto and very fruity smoothies) and they don't even notice.

 

[PiePie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hubris I haven't heard of cod liver oil being used for induction (doesn't mean it isn't, I just hadn't heard it), but I have heard of women taking castor oil.

you're right, i was just confused.

 

[cornpicker]

I take a flax seed oil supplement in the morning and a fish oil in the evening.

 

[VeganHeathen]

I have a flax supplement which gives 3/6/9, but I know we are not deficient in Omega 6 in this day and age. When I got pregnant, I found an EXCELLENT product that I cannot recommend enough.

It's called O-Mega-Zen3 by NuTru. The DHA is derived from algae. I take it together with what's called the "Brain Pak"

http://www.nutru.com/our_products/brainpak.htm

 

[BF124497]

Omega 9 (Oleic acid) is not technically an essential fatty acid, as the body produces it from sugars and starches we already consume. We just need reasonable amounts of Omega 3 and 6 to make it (otherwise, it is considered an EFA, and you will need to get it from dietary sources). To the OP: maybe your MW is concerned you're not getting enough 3 and 6 to produce 9, but if you're eating well and getting enough 3, you're probably okay.

I alternate between a 3-6-9 blend, and flax oil for more concentrated ALA. While I agree most people certainly have enough omega 6, I like to cover all my bases. It's called Omega Vegetarian 3-6-9 Liquid by Country Life. While the taste isn't great, there are no fishy burps, and it's easy to blend into smoothies or take straight.

 

[umsami]

I use Coromega... which is a orange goo type thing. I can't do horse pills. Not too bad tasting.

There are these delicious Bija Omega 3/6/9 truffles available at most health food stores in the refrigerator. Yummy, but expensive.

 

[Libelle]

I just bought some Carlson Cod Liver Oil with Lemon taste. It claims that the Vitamin A and D are naturally occurring and they test their stuff for contaminants such as mercury and dioxin. Now, I have not done an investigative report, but I am going to try this at a low dose soon.

I tried the generic fish oil capsules before and the fish taste was awful and lasted all day. Now my dog gets those and he certainly likes them.

My concern is mostly Omega 3s, as lack thereof and depletion has been linked to Depression by one British study on food and mental health (Feeding Minds http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publi...&EntryId=38574). Depression is in my family and I am taking precautions. I am not worried about Omega 6s, as we get way too much of it from our diets, and I never heard anyone worry about Omega 9s (because we can make them as pp explained?).

That being said, I am going to check out your thread on the nutrition forum.

 

[hubris]

Quote:

Originally Posted by veganjoy To the OP: maybe your MW is concerned you're not getting enough 3 and 6 to produce 9, but if you're eating well and getting enough 3, you're probably okay.

I don't believe she's worried about me, I'm eating normally for me, and in general my diet is good, lots of whole grains, veggies and fruits, varied protein sources, very little in the way of processed foods, etc. So I'm sure I'm probably ok on the O-6 front.

Quote:

Originally Posted by umsami There are these delicious Bija Omega 3/6/9 truffles available at most health food stores in the refrigerator. Yummy, but expensive.

I need an "I'm not listening" emoticon!!

Those sound dangerous! Good thing my hubby is going to the organic market tomorrow, and not me.

 

[MandarijnOrange]

I've been taking two Omega-3 pills since the beginning of the pregnancy and am ramping it up to 3 a day since I just started my 20th week. The pills are rather large and I also have a terrible gag reflex. The only trick I have is I have to fill up my mouth with liquid first, then squeeze the pill in through my lips and then swallow. If I put the pill in my mouth with no liquid, I immediately start to gag.

The recent Australian study used 4 grams a day (that would be 5 pills a day for me), but concluded that there was no significant benefit to taking more than previous studies had used. So, I'm adjusting down to 3 pills a day.

My DH said the same things that you brilliant ladies have already posted. We get tons of Omega 6 already and don't need anymore and he hadn't read anything about Omega 9 and he's really into nutrition stuff. He doesn't want me taking the Cod Liver oil though because of the Vitamin A. I'm still taking my prenatals and it already has plenty.

 

[Banana731]

Well, I may be in the minority, but I still eat my omega 3 and ALA.

:

I have salmon twice a week and ground flax seed in my cereal/oatmeal 2-3 times a week. The salmon here is wild caught, which has lower levels of dioxin, and salmon is high in omega 3 and low in mercury.

I live in a country where fish is the main staple of the diet, even in pregnancy. People on this island are supposed to be the longest lived in the world. The Japanese don't seem to worry much about the pollutants in fish(and they eat the really bad ones often!)

I may take a supplement in the 3rd trimester and while nursing, but I'm not sure yet. I'm not a huge supplement person, I guess. I try to what I can from food.

 

[ilikethedesert]

Another flax seed oil mama here. The taste is pleasant and it is easily blended into salad dressings or smoothies.

 

[AugustLia23]

I have read from a few seperate sources that flax seed is an inadequate source of omega-3, something about it not being well absorbed by the body or something. I take blue ice brand CLO. It was hard to get used to in the beginning, but now it doesn't bother me at all. I did take a break during the worst of the morning sickness, but I am not back to it.

I give my kids the Nordic Naturals Peach flavored oil straight up, and they take that no problem, so that may be another choice, and much easier to find in stores. I haven't actually tried the NN though, since the blue ice is so much higher in omega-3's.

 

[snozzberry]

Here's a link to info about how the body converts ALA (like flax) to DHA and EPA.

I heard on a forum thread here that flax also helps prevent stretch marks, but I don't know if that's the flax or the ALA!

 

[Maple Leaf Mama]

I use Hemp seeds. I sprinkle them on speghetti,salads,scrambled eggs, mix them into smoothies. I even mixed them into DD's homemade pineapple popsicles.
They have a very mild taste. Not unlike sunflower seeds.But milder.
I can't take flax seeds or the oil b/c it gets my gag reflex going in a bad way.
This is so much easier.
You can also get Hemp oil and use it like olive oil. But if you cook with it, it won't get denatured.