What are the most important influences on brain development before birth?
Many factors can influence fetal brain development, but most healthy pregnant women do not need to radically alter their lifestyles in order to promote optimal brain development. Good nutrition is important, since brain growth–like the growth of the rest of the fetus’ body–is influenced by the quality of a pregnant woman’s diet. Alcohol and cigarettes should be avoided, since these can impair the formation and wiring of brain cells. Some chemicals and forms of radiation are potentially harmful to fetal brain development, but most need concern only women exposed through their occupations–that is, those who work on farms or in factories, laboratories, hospitals, dry-cleaning stores, or other sites that expose them to dangerous chemicals, radiation, or infections. Infections pose perhaps the greatest risk to the developing fetus’ brain. Many seemingly harmless infections can seriously interrupt fetal development, including the formation and wiring of brain cells. Fortunately, most wome
