Exercise in pregnancy boosts babies' brains

Babies' brains showed more mature patterns of activity, linked to better mental performance in later life, when their mothers took at least three 20-minute sessions of moderate exercise a week. The early stage findings are the first from a randomised controlled trial in humans to show that a pregnant mother's exercise routine could have such an impact on her baby's brain.
"We know exercise is good for all kinds of things in pregnancy. It makes mothers feel better, gives them more control over their weight gain, and also has an impact on their child's weight gain in life. We're saying here's an added bonus, that exercise gives your child a head-start in brain development," said Elise Labonte-LeMoyne at the University of Montreal.
Pregnant mothers who exercise boost babies' brains, claim researchers The Guardian 10/11/13

Baby brain research unit opens at the Rosie Hospital

A new centre dedicated to studying brain development in newborn babies and assessing those at risk of brain damage has officially opened in Cambridge. The Evelyn Perinatal Imaging Centre, at the Rosie Hospital, is equipped with non-invasive optical imaging scanners, research facilities and a laboratory. The centre's Dr Topun Austin said the unit could help babies deprived of oxygen or blood flow during delivery.
Cambridge baby brain research unit opens at the Rosie Hospital BBC website 2nd October 2013