With Valentine’s day approaching, and Easter not far away, perhaps you’ll be receiving some chocolate soon. Oooh, but what about watching your weight?

Researchers in Finland, who appear to be chocoholics, studied 300 pregnant women. They asked the women to record their diets and stress levels while pregnant, and then visited with the mothers and babies six months after birth.

The babies born to women who ate chocolate daily while pregnant were happier, and smiled and laughed more.

And, the babies of stressed women who had eaten chocolate daily appeared to deal with stressful situations better, showing less fear, than the babies of stressed women who didn’t eat chocolate.

The researchers can’t prove that it’s chocolate that caused the effect, but they speculate that mood enhancing chemicals known to be in chocolate may cross the placenta and affect the baby.

I don’t think anyone would give you the green light to eat a box of chocolates a day, but a little treat a day won’t hurt. Except, of course, if your doctor says no, like for moms with gestational diabetes.

I’m a happier mom with a little chocolate, and my toddler is certainly the cheerful, smiley type. I’m quite willing to believe indulging while pregnant helped make my sweet son a very happy little boy!

Source - New Scientist Online

Tags: babies, Chocolate, Happiness, Pregnancy, Valentine's Day