Fish intake recommendations in the third trimester
The third trimester is a great time to increase fatty fish intake. Fatty fish contain omega-3s, notably DHA which is important for baby's brain development. Avoid eating any shark, swordfish, sea bass, king mackerel and bigeye/ahi tuna because they contain high levels of mercury. Exposure to mercury can cause irreversible damage to baby's nervous system.
Instead, we recommend eating two servings per week of a variety of fish/shellfish that are lower in mercury. These include:
- wild salmon
- trout
- sardines
- shrimp
- lobster
- crab
- tilapia
- cod
- mahi mahi
- catfish
- light tuna contains less mercury than white, so one can per week is okay