According to a recent study, babies who were breastfed exclusively for at least the first three months of life scored higher on IQ tests at age six than children who weren't breastfed exclusively. Previous research has shown that breastfed babies had enhanced thinking, learning, and memory abilities.

Researchers aren't exactly sure what the link between breastfeeding and IQ is. It could be a nutrient in breast milk -- perhaps the amino acids or cholesterol that's found in breast milk but not in formula. Or it could be the attachment-inducing act of breastfeeding.

The researchers of this study recommend breastfeeding exclusively for at least three months, though six months to one year may have added benefits.

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When teen mom Xochitl Parra gave birth in the shower to the baby she'd been secretly carrying for nine months, she probably had no idea that her secret would soon be national news.

Parra had no phone in her home and thought that it was too early to call the neighbors for help. So she wrapped the baby in a blanket and -- umbilical cord still attached -- walked and jogged four blocks to the nearest hospital where doctors immediately set to taking care of her and the baby.

Parra and the baby are both healthy and safe. Doctors say they are lucky, but that Parra did the right thing by seeking help right away. Though Parra was initially scared to tell her mom about the baby, the family is now making arrangements to raise the baby together.

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Japanese researchers have determined that the softening of the skull bones in newborns to due to a vitamin D deficiency in the womb. Otherwise referred to as craniotabes, the softening of the skull bones is largely considered a normal condition in newborns, particularly in premature births. It occurs in roughly 1/3 of all newborns. The researchers of the current study suggest that it shouldn't be treated so lightly, however. They point to evidence that craniotabes can be associated with type 1 diabetes, reduced bone mass, and lowered immunity.

Vitamin D production is stimulated by sunlight; the recent research uncovered that the majority of the newborns with craniotabes were born in April and May. The lowest number were born in November. Researchers surmise that the mother's exposure to sunlight approximately 4 months prior to delivery influences the condition. High incidence of craniotabes was also present in breast-fed infants.

Researchers suggest that infants with craniotabes be treated with vitamin D and that pregnant women should be sure to get healthy amounts of vitamin D. If you're pregnant, don't take any supplements without your physician's advice. But there are plenty of natural sources of vitamin D. Go for a walk during peak sunlight hours and drink milk or orange juice that's fortified with vitamin D. Also many types of fish are rich in vitamin D (but be careful of mercury which can be harmful during pregnancy) and some cereals are fortified with vitamin D.

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Are you expecting? Due to go into labor soon? The American Pregnancy Association recommends that you have necessary items gathered ahead of time to avoid a last minute rush to get everything together. That list of items includes things like:

• Clothing for your stay. You might be more comfortable in your own robe and pajamas after the baby is born. Don't forget socks and slippers too.
• Clothing for you and the baby to go home in. Yours should include maternity clothes that fit you when you were six months along. Your baby needs a hat and socks in addition to whatever special outfit you've chosen for the big day.
• Paperwork: Bring along your insurance card and all completed forms given to you by your health practitioner.
• Your baby's ride. If you're driving, you can't leave the hospital without a proper car seat.
• Lunch. If you're bottle feeding, bring your (sterilized) bottles and formula with you.

This is a list of essentials, but there are a few other optional items you might want to pack. Check out the gallery below to get some ideas, but keep in mind that bringing only what you need will make the trip home that much easier.

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New information is challenging the accepted rules regarding how much weight is "healthy" to gain during pregnancy: studies show that women who gain pregnancy pounds within the acceptable range are twice as likely to have over-weight toddlers (3yr olds) than women who gained less than the recommended amount.

But don't make any decisions about how to handle your pregnancy just yet -- pretty much all the experts agree it's too early to change the standard, and your baby's health (as well as your own) isn't something to play around with. At most, aim for the lower end of the currently accepted range.

Hopefully they clear this up soon -- there's enough anxiety around having a healthy pregnancy without throwing more "unknowns" into the mix.

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As much as they may try, the makers of baby formula just can't simulate the real thing completely. In a new study coming out of London, data shows that babies who were breast fed have much better stereoscopic vision than babies raised on formula. The scientists think it's due to higher DHA levels in breast milk than formula, but interestingly the children who had DHA-fortified formula didn't do any better on the eye exams than those who took regular formula.

There's some kind of magic in breast milk, the kind only a mother can make.

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