Is it bad that I eat alot of fish and I'm breatfeeding?

Question

I'm exclusively breastfeeding and have been for 3 1/2 months and I eat fish at least 3 times a week. Is that ok?

The only fish I eat is Tilapia.

Answer 1

It is absolutely fine to eat fish while breastfeeding. I exclusively breastfed my daughter for 22 months and am currently exclusively breastfeeding my son who is 1 year this month and we eat fish (1/2 of it is sushi) at least 6 to 8 times a month. My midwife told me when I was pregnant to cut it back to 1 to 2 times a month because of the mercury in some fish and to stay away from fish that is caught close to land, but she has never said anything to me about eating it while breastfeeding and neither has the kids pediatrician.


I would also like to add that when you are on WIC and breastfeeding they give you tuna because it is very high in protein and good for you to eat in moderation while breastfeeding, just don't eat to much of it because it helps to put weight on you. I know this because my husband had to gain weight and they had him eating 3 cans of chunk white tuna a day.

Answer 2

Fish is a wonderful source of Omega 3's which are very good for you. Just stay away from fish that tends to have a high Mercury content such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Canned, chunk light tuna generally has less amounts of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in moderation. HTH.

Answer 3

Wildlife and Fisheries agencies in most, if not all states publish guidelines for the amount of fish a pregnant or nursing woman should consume.

It is not so much fish in general that can be harmful, as particular species of fish. For example, tuna and mackerel tend to store more mercury. Farm-raised catfish and tilapia are generally safe because they are not typically raised in a mercury or lead contaminated environment.

Go to your state's Wildlife and Fisheries web site--it probably publishes a list of which species are safe for your consumption, and in what amounts and frequencies.

Answer 4

Honestly, it depends on the kind of fish that you are eating. Predatory fish, like shark, mackeral, sturgeon, bluefin tuna, etc are higher up on the fish food chain. The higher up on the food chain, the higher the levels of toxins there can be in the fish.

Fish is good for you, it is high in fatty acids. But stick with smaller fish, like anchovies, snapper, orange roughy, trout, and shellfish.

Answer 5

You should eat a lot more salmon as it is the richest source of omega 111. It is essential for the health of your baby. It will help to nourish the brain and strengthen the retina. Also there was a recent study that show that lactating mothers who consumed fish rich in omega 111's their babies had a higher IQ as compared to those who did not. From my own experience this is true because my son is now 16months and he does things that children his age cannot do.
So whooray for you you go right ahead!

Answer 6

Fish is great for you. I have not heard of any "bad" news about eating too much fish while breastfeeding. Keep up the good work.

Answer 7

I purely love fish, i admire the scent of fish and each little thing approximately them. Love them heat and moist the place i can sense them quiver as I start to devour. i'd desire to devour fish for hours and not in any respect tire of them.

Answer 8

It is absolutely ok ,in fact it is promoted. I ate a hefty amount of fish and other seafood while breast feeding and my son has never been sick! not even a fever and he has cut 8 teeth and he is now 1 year old. No worries, as long as you avoid catfish and most tunas because of the high mercury. Enjoy your fish and your healthy baby!!!!!

Answer 9

Yup, it's fine. Fish is the healthiest meat you can have. Breast feeding or not, the only thing to be aware of is fish that may contain higher levels of mercury, such as swordfish, or shark. This goes for anyone.

Answer 10

You might want to check just because of the mercury in fish. Other than that fish is really healthy for you.