When a made-for-TV movie has a title like "Babies," you know you're in for two hours of "oooooohs" and "aaaaaahhhhs" and tear-dabbing.

And in the case of tonight's NBC movie, airing from 8 to 10 on WMAQ-Channel 5, viewers can expect a few laughs, too.

"Babies" stars Lindsay Wagner, Dinah Manoff and Marcy Walker as women in search of motherhood.

Tonight's movie also proves there is life after television criticism. "Babies" was co-produced and co-written by Frank Swertlow, who used to cover the TV beat for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Swertlow and his co-creators, Helena Hacker and Lynn Roth, have produced a funny, poignant and thoroughly entertaining movie about the mysteries of pregnancy and trying to get pregnant.

Wagner portrays Yvonne, a 39-year-old career academic who has been unable to sustain a relationship. Fearing that her child-bearing years are slipping past her, she tries to find a sperm donor.

Meanwhile, Laura (Manoff) and husband David (nicely played by Adam Arkin) are trying to overcome infertility problems. Their situation sets up a funny scene in which David is obliged to provide a sperm sample in a very large jar.

"Fill it, uh?" frets David, pondering what seems like a 5-gallon jug. "Don't you have anything smaller?"

And then there is Cindy (Walker), whose pregnancy is threatened when she and husband Jake (John Walcutt) learn the fetus has developed a kidney problem, which requires extremely delicate surgery.

"Babies" neatly weaves all three stories together as the women draw upon each other for support and laughter through their travails.

The movie is filled with images of infants, and each little one bolsters the argument that all newborns look like Winston Churchill. How did Winston Churchill look as an infant? Why do I think about these things?

My regular readers know I have a great fondness for Wagner, who delivers a nicely balanced portrait of a woman in equal pursuit of her career and motherhood.

Manoff and Walker also turn in convincing, funny efforts, ably supported by Arkin as the much put-upon husband who finally snaps after one too many visits with a specimen jar.

"Babies" is a warm, engaging comedy-drama that ought to have you bouncing the television set on your knee.