The benefits of Omega-3 that I've always heard are cardiovascular, lowering triglycerides, etc. I don't know of the prenatal benefits, but I haven't been in a position to find out about those, either.

NuvaRing rocks the house -- I used to feel like total crap for the first week of pills (nausea/headaches), and with NR it's down to about 12 hours. Go go team localized hormone release!

There are types of fish that pregnant woman are supposed to avoid/eat minimally. But I am not sure what they are.

Basically anything that eats other fish -- the mercury levels can be dangerously high.

WRT the fish (since really everyone should try to avoid ingesting mercury, not just pregnant women): The important ones to avoid PERIOD are shark, swordfish, mackerel, tile fish (whatever that is). Tuna is on the eat with caution list. I wouldn't eat nearly the amounts of tuna that the FDA recommends. If you do eat canned tuna, go with chunk light, not albacore, as it has much less mercury in it.

I'm sad about the swordfish. Mackerel--I don't eat much, but it's a Jamaican staple, and I won't pass up an opportunity.

What else is on the eat with caution list?

Swordfish stocks are also in peril because we're taking younger and younger fish. Lots of good reasons to not eat swordfish.

OK, I'm catching up on old OCs, and I don't think I can take it anymore. Was Theresa ever supposed to be way older than Ryan? How the fuck does she have a career?? Although I did call RISD for Seth. Is it going to get less crazy-making or should I just delete? I'm just starting the prom one.

The FDA has a chart here listing the mercury levels in various fish and shellfish.

Here's the EPA advisory for women and young children: [link]

1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

2. Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.

Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.

Of coruse, the trouble with advisories like that is nobody has any idea what 6 oz. of fish actually looks like on a plate. I wouldn't be surprised if the portion of fish at your average restaurant is 12 oz.

There was a great 4-color spread in the Washington Post several years ago, that sat down and measured what a formal "serving" is (USDA) vs. what people actually serve themselves. Their conclusion: people have two servings of fruit in your average glass of OJ. Apples are usually 1.5 servings, because store-bought apples are so huge (except Macs). Nobody ever drinks 6oz. of milk; they drink 8 oz. or 12 oz. and think that is one serving. It was rather the eye-opener.

Nobody ever drinks 6oz. of milk; they drink 8 oz. or 12 oz. and think that is one serving.

I always thought 8oz was a serving of milk.