is fish safe for my pg gf?

Question

and if so what kind of fish?

Answer 1

She should stay away from big fish that are high in mercury. Like swordfish, shark, tuna, etc.

Answer 2

Yes, in small amounts. Depending on where you live the fish might have higher mercury levels than other places. I know where I live, My Dr. had told me to limit my fish in take to only 2-3 times a week. Its the mercury in the fish that is bad for her.

Answer 3

Question: Should I steer clear of fish now that I'm pregnant?

Answer: No, there's no reason to put the kibosh on all fish. Loaded with protein, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids, fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. But you're right to be cautious. Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methylmercury — a compound known to be harmful in high doses to an unborn baby's or young child's developing nervous system.

Fish absorb methylmercury from the water they swim in and the food they eat. But larger predator fish accumulate the highest levels of methylmercury from their prey because they eat more fish that are higher on the food chain and they tend to live longer. Methylmercury binds tightly to the proteins in fish muscle and remains there even after the fish is cooked.

In March 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new guidelines for how women who are trying to conceive, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children can limit their exposure to mercury in fish. They now advise eating no more than 6 ounces (about one serving) of canned albacore or "white" tuna. At the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University, we tend to be a bit more conservative and recommend eating no more than 4 ounces a week. Albacore tuna contains more mercury than the canned "light" variety, which can be relatively low in mercury.

According to the FDA/ EPA guidelines, you should also limit yourself to 12 ounces a week (about two servings) of canned "light" tuna and other cooked fish. Once again, our recommendations are more protective — eat fewer than 8 ounces a week of canned "light" tuna. And you should completely avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish (also called golden or white snapper), tuna steak (fresh or frozen), orange roughy, Spanish mackerel, marlin, and grouper because these fish are at the top of the food chain and contain the highest levels of mercury.

While all this talk of mercury may give you the impression that you should avoid fish altogether while you're pregnant, remember that fish is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids — all of which are essential for your baby's development. There are plenty of other tasty varieties — salmon, rainbow trout, and canned mackerel, for instance — that contain low levels of mercury and are high in healthy fats. The FDA considers these fish safe for pregnant women to eat twice a week.

For more information about the risks of mercury in fish and shellfish, check out Purdue University's Fish for Your Health Web site. You can also call the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's food information line toll-free at [phone] or visit the FDA's Food Safety Web site. The FDA site also provides a chart of mercury levels in a variety of fish and shellfish.

Answer 4

fish is safe b/c pregn. women need like of nutrients...fish is a good souce of protein...the fish that i know is ok is salmon n filet...just don't have too seasonin on it