It is often assumed that pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes and so there’s nothing to worry about which is false. The internet is littered with tales about the changes pregnancy visits on the physical, emotional and mental health of women. Let’s talk about how pregnancy changes the brain.
Decrease in grey matter
One study showed a reduction in grey matter in the areas of the brain responsible for a variety of tasks including social cognition, i.e., the ability to interact with others and figure out what someone else is thinking or feeling. This volume loss in grey matter persisted up to two years after childbirth. The social cognition was enhanced in relation to the baby enabling the mom to decode the child’s various cries and figure out what they need. It’s important to point out that an apparent reduction in the grey matter does not mean the brain shrinking. It’s not clear what happens when the grey matter shrinks but the brain doesn’t. It’s likely more like spring cleaning and organizing the upstairs in preparation for the baby.
Impacts on memory
Postpartum women display poorer memory skills than non-pregnant women in the area of spatial memory. This is the type of memory you use to remember the placement of an object and it may be why you asked where the cereal box was for the 4th time while shopping at your local supermarket.
Mood changes
Pregnant people have higher levels of anxiety, depression and other negative mood indicators. Many physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy such as hormonal changes and mood swings are similar to those of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Changes in default mode network
The default mode network is a group of brain regions that are most active when a person isn’t doing a specific task. This is the area that’s active when you let your mind wander or are involved in self-reflection. One study found that women who had the most changes in the default mode network reported feeling a greater bond with their infant and took more pleasure in interacting with their infants than women with smaller changes.
These brain changes are likely the result of hormonal changes, sleep deprivation occasioned by physical discomfort throughout the pregnancy, and increased stress levels associated with becoming a parent. The changes are also not something to worry about and may even provide long-term benefits for the mother and child. One study found that women who had given birth had a decrease in cognitive issues normally seen in the ageing process. In the short term, the changes are positively associated with parenting skills and the formation of the parent-child bond. Overall, the changes appear to serve to prepare moms for the new journey ahead.
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