Exercise during pregnancy boosts babies’ brains

Moms who remain fit while pregnant may be doing their babies’ brains a favor.

Researchers at the University of Montreal stuck 124 electrodes on the heads of babies who were only a couple of days old and found that women who were randomly asked to exercise and stay fit while pregnant had babies with more active brains eight to 12 days after they were born compared to moms who didn’t break a sweat.

Not only were their brains more active after birth, but the scientists continued to monitor the infants’ brains while they slept, and found that those whose mothers exercised more were better able to process repeated sounds, a sign of more mature brain functions.