Test Your New Mom IQ

Think you’ve got the latest scoop on pregnancy and infant health? Take our quiz, and find out! (Click on your guess to reveal the answer.)

1. A study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests that simply putting a _____ in your baby’s room will dramatically reduce the risk of SIDS.
a) rocking chair
b) fan
c) radio
d) Baby Einstein DVD

2. Johns Hopkins University researchers found a link between PFOA chemicals and lower birth weight and smaller head circumference in newborns. Which products can contain PFOA (and should be avoided by expectant mothers)?
a) stain and grease repellents
b) fast food packaging
c) Teflon-coated pans
d) all of the above 
e) none of the above

3. The latest information tells us a woman should add _____ extra calories per day to her diet if she is of normal weight when she conceives.
a) 300
b) 550 (plus as many Krispy Kremes as the baby wants)
c) 700 
d) 1,000

4. Looking at nearly 12,000 children, British researchers found that babies whose mothers ate fish during pregnancy had higher IQs plus better motor, communication and social skills than those whose mothers skipped fish. 
a) True
b) False

5. Breastfeeding is legal in California, but in which state is it illegal to breastfeed in public?
a) Arkansas
b) North Dakota
c) Kansas
d) all of the above
e) none of the above

1. b) a fan.
According to the study, just keeping the air moving around a bedroom may reduce SIDS risk by more than 70 percent! The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends laying baby on her back to sleep and giving her a pacifier.
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2. d) all of the above.
Of 300 babies tested in the study, 99 percent had PFOA in their umbilical cords, indicating babies are exposed in the womb. The chemical can be released from Teflon-coated pans at high cooking temperatures, so iron or stainless steel pans are healthier alternatives.
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3. a) 300.
Yes, you’re “eating for two,” but not two adult-sized people. In fact, a study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that overweight women who gained less than the recommended 15 pounds during pregnancy actually had better pregnancy outcomes. Similarly, underweight women had better outcomes when they consumed extra calories. Bottom line: talk to your doctor about what’s healthy for you.
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4. a) True.
After all the warnings about contaminated fish, a study in The Lancet indicates the omega-3 fatty acids in fish significantly benefit babies’ brain development and vision. The FDA recommends pregnant women eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week and opt for varieties like wild salmon (with more omega-3s and less mercury, etc.). Other sources include flaxseed, nuts, soybeans, and eggs. Breastfeeding also boosts babies’ omega-3 nutrition.
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5. e) none of the above.
As long as she’s not trespassing, a woman has a legal right to publicly (or privately) breastfeed in any state. You can find more info on breastfeeding and your legal rights, plus lactation support, at La Leche League International’s Web site.
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