Building Your Baby’s Brain Health During Pregnancy

Oftentimes, a woman begins to think like a mother as soon as the stick turns pink. She may ask herself: What can I do to create the healthiest most nurturing environment for this fetus to grow and develop physically? She can also surprise if there square measure actions she will be able to go for facilitate build her baby’s brain health and intellect.

David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM, board-certified neurologistand author of Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten, offers these tips for expecting mothers about how they can boost their babies’ developing brains.

• Make sure you are obtaining adequate DHA in your diet throughout gestation. DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that plays a critical role in brain, immune system and eye development. Because your body’s reserves of DHA are going to be by selection given to the craniate, it’s important to replenish your body’s reserve of this fundamental fat. Eating fish helps refill DHA, but many fish are contaminated with mercury and other toxic chemicals, so taking an algae-derived DHA supplement is best. There square measure several antenatal vitamins that contain additional DHA, as well as more than 500 food products that have been enriched with DHA derived from algae. DHA remains a vital nutrient for brain development after baby is born. That’s why many infant formulas have added DHA. But the simplest possibility out and away is to give suck if the least bit attainable. Keep in mind that the DHA content of breast milk is substantially higher when mothers add DHA to their diets. Breastfeeding ladies square measure typically suggested to require a daily algae-derived DHA supplement activity concerning 600 mg of DHA.
• Keep in mind that during pregnancy you are in complete control over the environment your future child experiences. Pregnancy is not the time to paint a room, expose yourself to potentially dangerous cleaning products, smoke cigarettes, expose yourself to secondhand smoke or consume foods that may harbor dangerous levels of pesticides. These exposures may lead to compromised brain function.
• Exercise is important and encouraged, but excessive exercise that keeps your body temperature elevated for a prolonged time should be avoided. One of the best exercises during pregnancy is swimming. Not only is it good for you from a cardiovascular perspective, but it doesn’t elevate your core body temperature. Yogaalso gets the nod, but avoid the “hot yoga” classes that have become popular. Stretching and yoga poses are a great idea, but make sure the room is comfortable.
• Finally, you may be overwhelmed by the number of toys, games, dolls and music CDs that promise to enhance your child’s brain development. While there may be some good products out there, don’t underestimate the powerful influence of the spoken word in terms of your baby’s brain development. Get face to face with your infant and talk with as much animation as you can muster. Singing to your baby does wonders for brain development, even if you think you don’t have the world’s greatest voice. It’s all about the interaction.you can also visit our best baby care product article:Everything You Need For Your Baby, According to Science