Is it safe to eat Tuna fish while pregnant??? I'm 7 weeks pregnant... is there a certain kind that is better

Question

for you or should I avoid it all?

Answer 1

albacore should be avoided. it has higher levels of mercury
other wise, 12 oz a week of regular light (not white-it's albacore) tuna is fine.

these are the fda guidelines. the poster below me is completely false.

"The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

By following these 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

********Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.********

Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week."

Answer 2

Pregnant Eat Tuna

Answer 3

Its a 50/50 split. Some say ok some say no. Before I knew I was PG when I would eat it, my feet would swell. I thought maybe it was the salt content till I found out a couple of weeks later that I was knocked up. So I've been off of it since. But man I miss it...I love Tuna salad in a major way. Well only my tuna salad. I'm going on a tuna a sushi binge once little bit is born.

Answer 4

Your doctor should have given you a list, but you can eat tuna up to 2 times a week. I love tuna and I eat it just fine. Salmon is also considered safe. The fish you should really and truely avoid are rockfish, tilefish, shark, king mackerel, and there's another one....ugghhh. I forget because it's totally not a fish I would ever eat. As long as you don't overdo the tuna you can eat it twice a week or 6oz a week.

Answer 5

well i am also pregnant 4 the 4th time and i was told by my doc to avoid tuna because the mercury levels n the water these days r so high it can cause miscarriages..so b careful i think u can eat it just not often, but check with your doctor first. congratulations!

Answer 6

It is safe to eat two cans of tuna per week. All is about the same, but I would go with WHITE. The 2 cans per week limit is due to the amount of mercury found in tuna. I just read this in a parenting magazine not long ago.

Answer 7

There's been a lot of conflicting answers posted. I can understand your confusion. The latest word, (check Consumer Reports) is that tuna is not recommended for pregnant women.
"Pregnant women. Given the uncertainties about the safety of even chunk-light tuna, we think it's prudent for pregnant women to avoid canned tuna entirely."
CR has a list of recommended fish for pregnant women.

Answer 8

nooooo. i just read an article in self [august 2007, you can read it for yourself] about how this woman ate tuna like 3 times a week when she was pregnant, and her son was born 3 weeks early and had lots of complications...i believe it said his adnoids were enlarged and he was partially deaf. mercury goes through the placenta and into your unborn child's brain...so don't eat canned tuna, or any tuna for that matter...find a list of low-mercury foods online :]

Answer 9

Tuna is pretty safe during pregnancy.... when i was pregnant with my daughter that was the only thing i could keep down so my dr. told me that it was fine and she would rather see me eat that then nothing at all .... my daughter was healthy and born right on time..... if you are really concerned I would just ask you ob on the next visit.... GOOD LUCK and CONGRATS!!!!

Answer 10

eat it in moderation, once a week is fine. Salmon is a safer alternative, it comes canned and can still be made into a salad like tuna.