Eat fish when pregnant for sociable babies

Children whose mums ate lots of fish during their pregnancies have better communication and social skills later in life, says the Lancet paper, a study from the UK.

The children showed increased social and communication skills as well as hand-eye co-ordination and total IQ up to the age of eight. Other factors were taken into account, as well as info on the rest of the mums' diets.

Eating less than 340g (12oz) of fish and seafood meant the children were more likely to have poorer behaviour, motor, communication and social development scores.

There are fears surrounding the possible toxic damage from eating fish during pregnancy. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advise pregnant mums to eat one or two portions of oily fish a week.

But they warn against certain types, such as shark, marlin, or lots of tuna, because of the high levels of mercury in those fish. Pregnant women are advised not to eat more than two tuna steaks a week (about 140g cooked or 170g raw) or four cans of tuna a week (about 140g per can).

Instead, the benefits can be found in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, pilchards and sardines.

If you have any worries about your diet during pregnancy, consult your GP.