Pregnant women who use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin increase their risk of miscarriage by 80 percent. The risk was increased if the NSAID use took place around the time of conception or if the drugs were used for more than one week.
Researchers suggest that the drugs suppress the production of prostaglandins, which are fatty acids needed for successful implantation of an embryo into the womb. The drugs may therefore lead to abnormal implantation that increases the chance the embryo will miscarry.
British Medical Journal August 16, 2003
If you are a pregnant woman, or anyone for that matter, and you feel pain, that is a signal that something isn’t right in your body. Taking painkillers for the pain will mask the symptom but ignore the underlying cause of the pain.
Aside from the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women, NSAIDS may increase your blood pressure and your risk of heart and kidney failure.
Although this study didn't evaluate the influence of fish oil during pregnancy, it is one of the most important things a pregnant woman can take to have a healthy-term baby with high intelligence levels. The omega-3 radically reduces the risk of miscarriage as they form the basis for the prostaglandins that the NSAIDs interfere with.
Additionally, omega-3 will also protect the baby from brain injuries such as autism, pervasive developmental delay and ADHD.
When choosing your fish oil or cod liver oil, it is important to remember that not all brands are the same. Especially in the case of pregnancy, you will want to be sure the oil has been purified of mercury and other potential toxins. In my research--and in my clinical experience with patients--I have found that:
Carlson’s is likely not the only brand in the world of such high quality, but up to this point it is the only one of such quality that I can recommend, so I now carry Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil on Mercola.com; you can also check your local health food store to see if they carry it.