THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST: Every mother's dream is to give birth to a healthy baby … who just so happens to off-the-charts intelligent. Studies show that there are actually things you can do while pregnant that will boost your baby's brain activity before birth. It's a common myth that listening to classical music will make your baby smart. That one hasn't been proven, but there are several things that have:

· Omega 3: these fatty acids have been extensively studied over the last few years and have been proven beneficial for foetal and eye development. Long chain fatty acids known as DHA and EPA are of particular importance for foetal development. A good source for these types of Omega 3 is oily fish, or fish oils

· Choline: This essential nutrient plays a big role in the formation of a baby's septum and hippocampus, two major areas where learning and memory take place. Pregnant moms should be getting about 450 milligrams of Choline every day during pregnancy, and 550 milligrams a day during lactation. Choline-rich food include eggs, beef, and dairy products

· Exercise: Research has been done looking at children of moms who exercised during pregnancy and children whose mothers quit working out while they were pregnant. The children who were born to mothers who exercised while they were pregnant scored significantly better on general intelligence and oral language exams at age 5.

· Clean teeth: Having periodontal disease during pregnancy has been proven to increase a mother's risk of delivering a premature or low birth weight baby by seven times. This may be because a gum infection can trigger the body to release prostaglandin which is a labor inducing chemical. Babies who are born prematurely or with low birth weight are more at risk to suffer from developmental delays or learning disabilities. ..

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