Nutrition & Fetal Brain Development

At birth, your baby's brain will have over 100 billion neurons. Considering that he started as a single cell nine months earlier, that is phenomenal growth. Fetal brain development begins in the second or third week of gestation -- weeks before many women know that they are pregnant -- and it continues into adulthood. Poor maternal nutrition can be quite damaging to the unborn child's brain development, which is why proper prenatal care is so important. Consult your health care provider if you are trying to conceive or suspect you are pregnant to make sure you are eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Development

In the first trimester, your baby begins to develop basic nervous system structures including the neural tube, which becomes the spinal cord and the cerebral cortex. Connections between neurons called synapses allow the developing fetus to exhibit basic reflexes such as kicking and arm waving. In the second trimester, the brain begins to process signals from other parts of the body. For instance, the baby hears and responds to his mother's voice. The fetus is now able to control his movements and has begun to form memories. You may notice your baby respond more strongly to voices or music he has heard before. In the third trimester, an external electroencephalogram can register fetal brain waves. The baby's brain is developing to allow him to interpret and respond to stimuli at birth.

Malnutrition

Fetal brain development has a series of critical, irrepeatable moments. If the fetus is not supplied with the nutrients he needs at those times, the damage can be significant. When a mother is underfed or not getting enough of the right nutrients, the fetus is deprived too. Maternal malnutrition has been linked to brain deficits such as a lower IQ and mental health problems. In developed countries, most mothers take in enough calories, but may not supply their developing child with enough vitamins and minerals. You can eat a steady diet of fast food, be overweight and still be malnourished. For the sake of your baby, resist the urge to gorge on ice cream and embrace the salad bar instead.

Alcohol

You may have noticed the Surgeon General's warning on your favorite bottle of tequila. It's not that he thinks pregnant ladies shouldn't party; he just wants to protect the unborn from the damaging effects of alcohol. Use of alcohol during pregnancy can cause a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome. Children with FAS have abnormal brain development and are often mentally retarded. They may have behavioral problems later on in life. There is no "safe" amount of alcohol for pregnant women. Alcohol is most damaging during the first trimester and when consumed in a binge fashion, but can be harmful at any stage in the pregnancy.

Folic Acid

Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is found in orange juice, some grains and dark, leafy vegetables. Although all vitamins are important during pregnancy, folic acid is particularly significant. Folate deficiency can cause serious neural tube defects such as spina bifida, encephalocele and anencephaly. Folic acid is most important during the first 28 days of the pregnancy. All women of childbearing years should take a folic acid supplement in case they become pregnant.