Do you already have your list of baby names ready in your notes? Or do your ovaries almost leap out of your body at the sight of a newborn little one? Getting pregnant is a special process.
It is important to get your body ready for the moment of conception. We are happy to tell you more about which nutrients are important for this. In this blog, we explain among other things why omega 3 is important if you want to become pregnant, in other words: everything about omega 3 and getting pregnant.
Why getting pregnant sometimes does not work
Did you know that in 2022 the average Dutch woman had 1.49 children? Ten years ago this number was slightly higher, namely 1.72 children per woman. Although it seems that the average number of children per woman is decreasing, the biological urge to reproduce remains as strong as ever. Hormones can feel like they are racing through your body and before you know it, you are having THE "I-want-to-get-pregnant conversation". If you and your partner feel completely ready for the next step, you may want to get pregnant quickly.
Yet it often does not quite work that way. Getting pregnant sometimes resembles Russian roulette. For one person it happens on the first try, while another wonders if something is wrong with her body because she just does not seem to get pregnant. That sometimes makes the subject of getting pregnant a loaded topic full of emotions. Nevertheless, we would like to walk you through how you can best support your body and which nutrients or products you could add to your diet or lifestyle. One example is omega 3: getting pregnant and a good intake of these fatty acids are closely connected.
Pregnancy vitamins: when exactly do you need them?
Many women start taking pregnancy vitamins at the moment of a positive pregnancy test. Yet it is good to get your body into a state of readiness well before the moment of conception.
We explain the four most important nutrients before pregnancy:
1. Folic acid
Folic acid and pregnancy go hand in hand. This pregnancy vitamin is abundant in green vegetables. Spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli are among the most nutritious sources, but folic acid can also be found in eggs, wholegrain bread and meat.
Did you know that during pregnancy all kinds of problems can arise related to an insufficient folic acid level? If you as a mother have an insufficient amount of folate in your body, this is a risk for the development of spina bifida in the foetus in your belly. Folate contributes to the growth of your baby during pregnancy and to the formation of the placenta.
Midwives recommend taking this important vitamin at least during your pregnancy. It takes about four weeks for your body to fully absorb folic acid. The advice therefore actually applies from the moment you want to become pregnant. The midwife advises a minimum daily supplementation of 400 mcg of folic acid.
2. Vitamin D & pregnancy
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, also known as the sunshine vitamin. When we expose our skin to the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays of the sun, our skin converts the precursor of vitamin D into an active form. The body transports this active form to the liver and kidneys. There, another conversion follows into the final usable vitamin D.
So what is vitamin D good for? Vitamin D helps your immune system, plays a role in (the process of) tissue growth and development and is good for maintaining strong bones. Read more in our blog about why vitamin D is important.
In winter, the sun here in the Netherlands is not strong enough for sufficient vitamin D production. The colour of your skin and the use of sunscreen also influence this. Then it can be useful to take vitamin D3 as an additional supplement.
3. Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral involved in a great many processes in our body. Magnesium is good for your muscles, concentration and fatigue, and helps release energy from food. Magnesium also plays a role in the transmission of impulses between (nerve) cells. Especially during your pregnancy, when your body works tirelessly to create new life.
We find magnesium in various foods. Sources of magnesium are nuts, seeds, whole grains, leafy vegetables and legumes.
Omega 3 and getting pregnant: what you need to know
Last but certainly one of the most important nutrients is omega 3. Omega 3 forms a group of unsaturated, important (essential) fatty acids. There are three types of omega 3:
- ALA (alpha-linolenic acid)
- EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
- DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
The omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are beneficial for heart health, blood pressure and triglyceride levels. However, our body cannot produce these fatty acids itself. So it is important to get them through your diet. And omega 3 is not only important for your body. DHA, taken by the mother, is an important building block for the brain of the foetus (and of breastfed infants). Omega 3 is found mainly in oily fish.
The advice according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre is to eat fish twice a week when you are pregnant (250-450 milligrams of DHA). In the Netherlands, it appears that this advice is often not followed. If eating fish twice a week is not feasible for you, taking a supplement is the solution. For those looking into omega 3 and getting pregnant, supplements such as fish oil or algae oil can be a valuable addition.
Which omega 3 supplements are there?
With the forest of omega 3 supplements out there, you may have lost the overview a little. We are happy to help you on your way with the following overview. If you want to use omega 3 to properly prepare your body for getting pregnant, you can choose from various forms such as capsules or a liquid variant.
Do you want the very best supplement? Then we recommend our highest-dosed fish oil capsules with added vitamin D3.
Not a hero at swallowing capsules? We also have fish oil in smaller capsules. Does any pill make you gag, and would you rather have a liquid variant? Then we have our liquid fish oil with a mild orange flavour for you.
No. 1: Fish oil (large capsule) Click here to view the product
No. 2: Fish oil liquid orange flavour
No. 3: Algae oil (small capsules)
No. 4: Algae oil liquid
Finally
Getting pregnant is a special process in which your patience is sometimes put to the test. Besides everything you have to do, have to take or are not allowed to eat or drink, relaxation may well be the most important thing of all. Relax and trust that nature will choose the best path for you. Your body is made for this.
Now that you know more about these important nutrients, you can better prepare yourself for a possible pregnancy. Whether you choose to add specific foods to your diet or take an additional supplement, such as our high-dose fish oil capsules with vitamin D3, smaller fish oil capsules, or our mild orange-flavoured liquid fish oil, the choice is entirely yours. There are several ways omega 3 can support getting pregnant; what matters is that you choose what suits you. So, whether or not you already have a list of baby names, we hope this information helps you on your way. Good luck on your journey to parenthood!
Would you like advice from a therapist in the field of getting pregnant? Then visit the website oeractief.nl
Do you have other questions about our products? We would love to answer your questions!
