A study conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas discovered women who take the prenatal supplement, DHA, during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to heavier babies and have a lower risk of preterm birth.

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil. Although small amounts of DHA are produced naturally in the body in the cell membrane, most of the DHA the body needs comes from a person’s diet.

DHA plays an important role in developing a fetus’ brain and central nervous system. It has also shown to reduce respiratory and allergy problems in infants.

Baptist Health and Wolfson Children’s Hospital have partnered up in an effort to educate and spread awareness of DHA’s benefits to mothers and infants. Download their “Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding” brochure here.