There is a new pregnancy trend that has parents singing, beating drums, playing music and talking to their pregnant bellies. A University of Alabama study has linked in utero stimulation programs to increased IQ scores for children by 15 to 30 percent. The Prenatal Enrichment Unit at Huachiew General Hospital claims that prenatally stimulated babies have early speech acquisition, smile sooner, turn their heads toward their parents' voices quicker, respond more to music, and develop better social patterns. Another study done in Venezuela found prenatally stimulated babies were better able to breastfeed, had better hand eye coordination, earlier language development and better problem solving skills. While the approach is still quite controversial, more and more women are participating in the prenatal classroom and doing prenatal exercises.

DO NOT try any of the prenatal exercises described without talking to your obstetrician first, and if you start to feel sick or feel contractions at any point, stop and call your doctor immediately. Experts in the field recommend no more than two ten-minute stimulation sessions a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Here are few prenatal exercises:

Prenatal Exercise 1: Baby Touches

Recommended usage: Start any time between week 13 and 27. It should be done from the belly button up. After week 28, it is recommended that the movements be done from head to toe based on the information your obstetrician has given you about your baby's position.

Description: 1) Putting your hand on your belly, stroke your fetus and say, "Stroke, I'm stroking you." 2) Pat your fetus and say, "Pat, I'm patting you." 3) Rub your fetus and say, "Rub, I'm rubbing you."

Prenatal Exercise 2: The Kick Game

Recommended usage: Start this game between weeks 20 and 28 in two to three minute sessions.

Description: When you start to feel your baby kick, get in the habit of responding with a gentle pat or press on your abdomen. After several days, start adding the words "kick, kick" as you are patting back. Once the baby starts to kick back where you have been patting or pressing, press back and say, "Hi, this is Mama. Kick. That's good. Kick here again." If your baby starts responding to your pats and presses, try moving your hand to a new area of your abdomen that will be easy for the baby to reach and press or pat the new spot to see if you can get your baby to follow your movement. If she does, respond by saying, "Good! Kick here again."

Prenatal Exercise 3: Music

Recommended usage: Start between weeks 20 and 22.

Description: Play classical music, especially any music that mimics the mother's heartbeat of 60 beats per minute for the baby. In a study done by audiologist Michele Clements it was found that fetal heart rates steadied and then declined, which indicates a positive response, when they were played Vivaldi and Mozart. The BeBe Sounds System (http:bebesounds.com) comes with a headset for you, one you can put on your belly for your baby, and a microphone for times when you want to talk to your baby.

Every baby responds differently to the exercises, so do your best to be patient and just enjoy the bonding time with your baby while performing these prenatal exercises.