Cod Liver Oil and Breastfeeding: An Overview
Cod liver oil is a good source of
omega-3 fatty acids that are important for your baby's brain and eye development. However, it is not known if cod liver oil is safe for women who are breastfeeding. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or planning to start, and you are considering taking cod liver oil, make sure to check with your healthcare provider first.
Cod Liver Oil, Breastfeeding, and Toxins
It's not clear if breastfeeding women should avoid cod liver oil supplements, which may contain various toxins. If you are breastfeeding and your healthcare provider decides that it is safe for you to take cod liver oil, choose only those supplements that are made by reputable manufacturers, and be sure to check that the cod liver oil has been purified and tested for toxins.
One way to avoid this problem altogether is to take an
omega-3 fatty acid supplement that is not derived from fish.
Expecta® Lipil
® is one such product that is available without a prescription and is designed especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women. However, check with your healthcare provider before taking such products, as many
prenatal vitamins now contain omega-3 fatty acids and many women take prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding. If your prenatal vitamin already has omega-3 fatty acids, you probably should not take any additional omega-3 fatty acids.
Cod liver oil is not free of side effects
(see Cod Liver Oil Side Effects) and dangerous effects
(see Is Cod Liver Oil Safe?). Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, you should only take cod liver oil with your healthcare provider's approval. More importantly, cod liver oil contains very large doses of vitamins D and A, enough to cause significant toxicity in many people.
