Health Tip: Eating Fish During Pregnancy

While fish typically is a healthy food, many types contain mercury. And because mercury exposure can harm a developing fetus, expectant moms should be cautious about how much fish they eat.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends these precautions for pregnant women who eat fish:

• Avoid species that tend to contain high amounts of mercury, including tilefish, shark, king mackerel and swordfish.
• Eat no more than 12 ounces per week of lower-mercury fish, such as canned light tuna, shrimp, catfish, pollock and salmon.
• Before eating locally caught fish, check for any advisories.
• If you cannot find information about the safety of local fish, eat no more than one 6-ounce serving in a single week, and avoid other fish that week.