Women who do not eat fish during pregnancy are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety.

Researchers from Children of the 90s at the University of Bristol and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have found a link between the type of diet eaten and anxiety in pregnancy.

The results suggest eating fish during pregnancy could help reduce stress levels.

Excessive anxiety is not good for the mother's long-term health and can result in their baby being born prematurely and/or having a low birth weight.

The study looked at the fish intake of more than 9500 pregnant women. Those who never ate seafood were 53% more likely to have high levels of anxiety at 32 weeks than those who ate seafood regularly.

Dr Juliana Vaz, the report's senior author, said: "In order to have a healthy pregnancy, women need to follow a healthy diet and not something special for pregnancy.

"It means a diet containing fish: three portions per week with at least one of oily fish, such as salmon, sardine or tuna."