What is DHA?

DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid. It’s a kind of fat (called omega-3 fatty acid) that helps with growth and development. During pregnancy, you need 200 milligrams of DHA each day to help your baby’s brain and eyes develop. Not all prenatal vitamins contain DHA, so ask your provider if you need to take a DHA supplement. You also can eat foods that have DHA in them. Good sources of DHA include:

1. Fish that are low in mercury, like herring, salmon, trout, anchovies, and halibut. During pregnancy, eat 8 to 12 ounces of these kinds of fish each week.
2. Orange juice, milk, and eggs that have DHA added to them (check the package label)