Boost a Baby's IQ in the Womb - Get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid from food and/or supplements every day. Women who take the recommended dose of folic acid starting at least a month before conception can reduce their baby's risk of brain and spinal birth defects by 50 to 70 percent. Medina says that consuming enough folic acid is the first step you can take to assist your baby's brain development.
Consume 350 to 450 milligrams of DHA, a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid. A 2003 study in "Pediatrics" found that children of women who took cod liver oil -- a rich source of DHA -- from 18 weeks of pregnancy through three months after giving birth scored significantly higher on an intelligence test at four years than a control group. Food sources of DHA include liver, fish oil and fatty fish such as herring, salmon and tuna. Limited amounts of DHA also occur in egg yolks and poultry. If you don't regularly eat these foods, take a DHA supplement.
Boost a Baby's IQ in the Womb
Lower your stress level. Medina states that small amounts of moderate stress can positively influence an unborn baby. But if your stress is too frequent and severe and leaves you feeling out of control, it can lower your baby's IQ by an average of eight points. A 2008 study in the "Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology" found that children born to women who experienced high levels of stress during a devastating ice storm in Quebec had diminished cognitive and language abilities at 5 1/2 years of age.
Gain a healthy amount of weight. During pregnancy, you need to eat well to grow a healthy baby, and failing to gain an adequate amount of weight can result in a lower birth weight for your baby. According to Medina, a baby's IQ typically increases with birth weight up to about eight pounds, though it declines slightly above nine pounds. Similarly, a 2001 study in the "British Medical Journal" that examined the influence of birth weight on IQ in siblings found an overall positive association between birth weight and intelligence. It also found when looking at brothers that the heavier brother tended to have the higher IQ.
Expectant parents often feel driven to give their baby-to-be the best start in life. They may try to increase their unborn baby's IQ by playing classical music to him, buying a curriculum that claims to teach him to spell or even tapping Morse code on Mom's stomach. However, according to John Medina, author of "Brain Rules for Baby," "No commercial product has ever been shown to do anything to improve the brain performance of a developing baby." While you may not be able to buy a CD or toy that will turn your baby into a little genius, science has identified some factors that can increase your baby's intelligence. - by eHow
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