Print Edition
TT On-The-Go
TT Feed
| How to have a happier, healthier, smarter baby |
|
 |
 |
 |
Font Size 
|
Multithumb found errors on this page: There was a problem loading image C:\wamp\www\images/stories/08_happier.jpg  Pregnant women have tweaked their diets, tried prenatal education tricks, and attempted whatever else baby books and doctors have recommended—all in the quest to have happier, healthier, and perhaps even smarter babies. Mothers-to-be have latched onto fish oil, to cite one example, because of studies crediting omega-3 fatty acids with brighter babies and a lower risk of postpartum depression. New research suggests none of the above. A study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association of more than 2,000 pregnant women who took either fish oil or vegetable oil capsules found no benefit to cognitive or language skills of babies born to fish oil-taking mothers. (Nor did fish oil seem to alleviate their postpartum depression.) So what can women do to enhance their babies' prenatal experiences and give them a leg-up when they enter the world? In her new book Origins: How the nine months before birth shape the rest of our lives, journalist Annie Murphy Paul explores the burgeoning field of fetal origins, which examines how the conditions we encounter before birth influence us down the line. U.S. News spoke with Paul, who shared her insight on which prenatal behaviors withstand scientific scrutiny—and which are shaky at best. - Edited excerpts: Does research support gadgets and other devices marketed to boost babies' intelligence? Parents often try prenatal education systems, which are completely unsupported by science. There's no indication they will make your baby smarter. Likewise, playing Mozart through headphones to the pregnant belly won't increase intelligence, and could even be harmful. A fetus isn't expecting music to be blasted into the womb, and it may be so loud it causes damage. What's the deal with chocolate—can eating it during pregnancy really benefit babies, as you say in your book? Frequent chocolate consumption during pregnancy has been tied to a happier, less fussy baby. You advocate that pregnant women do a "kitchen purge," especially to discard certain plastics. Why? Household plastics often contain the chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. These chemicals are endocrine disrupters, which means they imitate the action of chemical messengers in our bodies. Even a small amount can be damaging because our bodies don't recognize them as foreign, and they can mess up the fetus's development process. You can tell if your [plastics contain BPA] by looking at the recycling code on the bottom. Anything labeled 3, 6, or 7 should go in the trash. And don't use plastic in the microwave or put it in the dishwasher, since heat can release BPA. There's a reason public health experts and doctors always say no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. That's not just an evasion or a stock line—it's true. The genetic makeup of the woman and the fetus also plays a role, because both will differ in how they respond to alcohol. That fuzziness is why I decided not to drink at all when I was pregnant. If you're thinking about it, remember that the fetus is most susceptible to damage from alcohol during the first trimester. (Source: health.usnews)   Socialize this Subscribe to our RSS feed to stay in touch and receive all of TT updates right in your feed reader
|