DHA Testing for Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

DHA Testing in Pregnancy: What It Is and Why It Matters

In pregnancy, DHA is a vital omega-3 that supports your baby’s development, laying important foundations for your baby’s long-term health.

DHA, everything you need to know

DHA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that supports both your health and your baby’s development during pregnancy. However, many women don’t get enough through diet alone. DHA plays a key role in supporting brain and eye development in your baby [5,6], while also being linked to better emotional well-being for Mum [4] and reducing the risk of early preterm birth [3]

Collection of omega-3 rich foods on a marble surface.

Essential nutrient your body can’t produce

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that play a critical role in the body’s health. They cannot be produced by the body, so they must be obtained from the diet. The three main types are:

DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)
Also found in oily fish or krill, DHA is particularly important for brain and eye health.

EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)
Found primarily in fish, fish oils, squid oils, krill oils, and certain algae.  

ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid)
Found in plant-based sources like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. While beneficial, ALA needs to be converted into EPA and DHA in the body, which happens inefficiently.

Pregnant lady cradling bump against a cream background with DHA blood test results overlaid

Know Your DHA. Support Your Baby.

A DHA blood test measures how much DHA is in your system. It helps you understand whether your diet is providing enough to support both your health and your baby’s development.

DHA plays a vital role throughout pregnancy, and your body’s need for it increases with each trimester.

Our DHA blood test is designed to be as simple and gentle as possible. With our innovative NurtureKit, you can take it from the comfort of your own home—just four drops of blood are all it takes to receive accurate, personalised insights.

With the results from your test we can tailor your Nurture monthly subscription to safely increase your level in as little as a couple of months.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DHA

Professor Mark Johnson, Nurture founder & Consultant Obstetrician on DHA in Pregnancy.

“DHA is vital for fetal brain development, yet many women don’t get enough through diet alone. Low DHA levels have been linked to early delivery, cognitive challenges in infants, and even mood disorders in mums during and after pregnancy. That’s why I worked closely with the team to develop NurtureOmega™ — ensuring expectant mothers have access to high-quality, highly absorbable DHA.”

Meet our founder

Pregnant lady sat on the floor, on a brown patterned carpet, cradling her bump

DHA during pregnancy isn’t just important—it’s essential.

DHA, a vital Omega-3 fat, plays a key role in your baby’s brain, eye, and nervous system development. Because your baby can’t produce DHA on their own, they depend entirely on your levels during pregnancy—making you more vulnerable to deficiency.

In fact, research shows that many women don’t get enough DHA through diet alone. But maintaining optimal DHA levels has been linked to:

Support fetal brain development

DHA is crucial for fetal brain growth and development throughout pregnancy and particularly in the third trimester. [5,6]

Shown to lower risk of preterm birth

Omega-3 intake, especially DHA, is linked to a reduced risk of preterm birth in some studies. [3,22]

Promote eye health and development

DHA supports fetal retinal and visual development. [6]

Shown to reduce maternal stress and depression

Low Omega-3 levels are associated with a higher risk of postpartum depression. [4]

Optimal DHA levels

Low DHA levels are more common than you think—especially during pregnancy. While severe DHA deficiency is rare, many women - especially pregnant mums—don’t get enough to meet their body’s increased demands. Those more likely to have low DHA levels include;

Pregnant and breastfeeding women, Vegetarians and vegans, people with low-fat diets or poor absorption, older adults, children with neurodevelopment conditions.

Low DHA can show up in physical ways—such as changes in hair texture and skin quality—but its deeper effects are often less visible. DHA plays a key role in brain, eye, and nervous system health, supporting everything from mood regulation to cellular integrity.

0-4%

If your DHA level is below 4%, this is considered low and may increase the risk of early preterm birth, lower cognitive outcomes in infants, and maternal mood challenges.

4-5%

DHA levels between 4-5% indicate moderate levels in your system, and while these markers do not indicate ‘deficiency’ these levels are still considered insufficient.

5-8%

DHA levels above 5% are considered ideal. These levels allow the greatest benefits, including reduced inflammation, improved brain function & better pregnancy outcomes .

HOW NURTURE DHA TESTING WORKS

Check

With our innovative NurtureKit®, you can take a simple blood test from the comfort of your own home—no clinic visits or appointments needed. Each kit includes clear, step-by-step instructions and a prepaid return envelope, making it easy and stress-free to send your sample straight to our lab.
Recommend

Once your sample is analysed by our expert lab team, you’ll receive personalised, easy-to-understand results showing your current DHA levels. Based on your results, we’ll provide a tailored supplement recommendation to best support both your health and your baby’s development.
Monitor

Your plan includes a free blood test with your first month’s subscription, and another at the start of your third trimester. These help us monitor your DHA levels and adjust your supplements to meet your body’s growing demands throughout pregnancy.