PULSE MAKING BABIES.

The same folks who brought us the birth and the story of America's first test-tube baby in 1981 continue their look at the science of reproduction with ``18 Ways to Make a Baby.''

Though ``Nova'' writer and producer Sarah Holt admits her research uncovered more than 18 methods for creating a baby, the special offers an overview of some of the most recent developments in reproductive technology.

``Suffice it to say that couples who cannot conceive naturally have a doctor's bag full of potential options to choose from,'' she notes. The show airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday on KCET.

In vitro fertilization was just a starting point for doctors who have manipulated this method and discovered others, such as ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), in which sperm is injected into the egg, rather than placed around it. The ``Nova'' show looks at infertile couples being treated with this method.

The documentary also discusses the ethics of genetic engineering and cloning. Dr. Jamie Grifo, director of reproductive endocrinology at New York University Medical Center, says the methods offer hope.

``There are risks to these things, but there's also a risk to not treating disease. And people forget that. People forget how hard it is to live with infertility.''

- Elizabeth Smilor

WORKOUT VIDEO

NOT BELLY-BUSTING: ``Bellydance Fitness'' hopes to prove that shaking your bonbon can produce a bodacious bod. But unfortunately, this workout doesn't do much to work the belly. The idea is to hold in the stomach muscles throughout the mild exercises, but with little focus on the abdomen, it's hard to keep it up.

Identical twins (and world-renowned belly dancers) Veena and Neena lead you through a mild and surprisingly entertaining workout of traditional belly dance moves. The drum beats are appealing at first, helping one to get in the mood of exotic belly dancing, but halfway through, the music turns into a bit of an annoyance. I ended up muting the tape and cranking up my own workout music.

The workout does do a good job of explaining basic moves like the genie bounce, hip shake and the shimmy, but the 30-minute drill does little to raise the heart rate. Those who prefer to feel the burn will want to steer clear. The moves are small - and they do tingle the hips, thighs, buns and abdominal muscles - but this routine is a better pre-workout warm-up.

The best part of the workout is hearing your hip scarf (available for $29.95) jingle during the genie dance and genie hop. And by the end of the half-hour, although you haven't done much to work that spare tire, at least you have a few new moves to show off on the dance floor.

``Bellydance Fitness for Beginners: Slim Down'' Running time: 30 minutes. Cost: $14.98 VHS. To order: [phone] or Amazon.com

- Heather Wood

TROUBLED TEENS: Teen-agers don't have to feel alone. They can talk about their problems with counselors at Teen Line, a hot line based at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Elaine Leader, executive director of Teen Line, says now, more than ever, the volunteer hotline would like to remind young people that they have a resource to turn to when grappling with disturbing images or possible loss of loved ones. To reach the teen hot line, dial [phone] between 6 and 10 p.m. For the Psychological Trauma Center, call [phone]; for more information on Teen Line, call [phone], Ext. 1.

- Barbara De Witt

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