These tips tell you what makes a baby beautiful and smart

What you do while you're pregnant can have as much impact on your child's brain development and future intelligence as what you do after you give birth. Learn some of the ways that healthy habits help your baby's brain. They are pointers to what makes a baby beautiful and smart.

Here's What Makes A Beautiful Baby A Smart One

Lower Odds of Autism

These tips tell you what makes a baby beautiful and smart Pulse Nigeria

Taking a prenatal supplement, one with the B vitamin folic acid is essential for pregnancy. Folic acid has long played a key role in forming healthy brain cells. A recent study found that women who took folic acid early - from four weeks before conception through to eight weeks into pregnancy - had a 40 percent lower risk of birthing a child with autism.

To get more folic acid in your diet, look to excellent sources. These foods are also what makes a baby beautiful and smart:

Fortified breakfast cereals, lentils, and leafy greens like spinach.
Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, also have a major impact on the production of neurons. They are the nerves in the brain that fire electrical impulses and send messages to the rest of the body. Get your fill from foods such as wild salmon and other fatty fish, walnuts, ground flaxseed, and eggs fortified with omega-3s.
Iron helps promote the growth of healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your baby's brain. Red meat is the best source, but it is also in plant foods such as beans, spinach, and tofu, as well as iron-enhanced cereals.

If you're worried that you're not eating enough fruits and veggies (perhaps you're struggling with morning sickness) sneak them into your diet like this:

Put dried fruits in oatmeal and salads.
Dice or puree veggies and add them to soups and sauces.
Get more nutrients by drinking milk and orange juice.

However, be sure to ask your doctor before taking additional supplements.

What makes a baby beautiful? Increased Intelligence

These tips tell you what makes a baby beautiful and smart Pulse Nigeria

Exercise will give you the stamina you need for labour and delivery. It can also strengthen your baby's brain. According to research, children of moms who exercised during pregnancy scored higher on tests of language skills and intelligence at age 5 compared with the kids of sedentary moms. Why? Moderate levels of cortisol - a stress hormone that's also secreted when you exercise. Cortisol promotes the growth and development of your baby's brain, as well as his other major organs. Experts recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise for pregnant women on all or most days of the week.

An A-OK IQ

These tips tell you what makes a baby beautiful and smart Pulse Nigeria

Some women develop problems with their thyroid for the first time during pregnancy. And it's important to treat any issues that arise. Either too much or too little thyroid hormone in a mother's blood can be harmful to the foetus. Low levels of thyroid hormone have been linked to subtle IQ deficits later in childhood. Researchers don't currently recommend thyroid hormone screening for all pregnant women. But moms-to-be at risk can have their levels monitored with a simple blood test. To help keep your thyroid gland functioning normally, consume 220mcg of iodine per day; it's found in yogurt and milk, as well as iodized salt.

Better Bonding

These tips tell you what makes a baby beautiful and smart Pulse Nigeria

You might feel silly talking to your baby now. But it can help you form an intimate relationship early on. It is a vital part of what makes a beautiful baby smart. Research suggests that about halfway through your pregnancy, your baby can hear and respond to sounds. You can talk, sing, or read to him/her. Some studies have shown that babies seem to calm to a song, a book, or a voice and may recognize rhythms that they heard in utero.

What makes a baby beautiful? Maximum Brainpower

These tips tell you what makes a baby beautiful and smart Pulse Nigeria

The longer your baby's brain has to develop in utero, the better off he'll be in the long run. At 35 weeks, his brain volume is only two-thirds of what you'd expect it to be at 39 or 40 weeks. Although some factors can make you more susceptible to preterm delivery, such as carrying multiples or having preeclampsia, you can help your baby stay put longer. Don't smoke or drink alcohol. Manage serious illnesses such as diabetes, as well as stress. And every time you wish your pregnancy was over, remember that your smart, healthy baby is worth the wait.

Web MD, CDC

Also read: What to do during pregnancy to have a beautiful baby

This article was first published on AfricaParent.com