A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience highlights the neurological transformations that accompany pregnancy, indicating a decrease in certain gray matter regions of the brain. These alterations appear to play a role in a pregnant woman’s ability to gauge the emotions, intentions, and actions of those around her, with effects that may linger for up to two years post-pregnancy as “pregnancy brain” transitions into “mom brain.”
For many women, this revelation might elicit a collective eye roll. It’s no surprise that new mothers prioritize survival—both of their newborns and themselves—while the emotional nuances of others may drift into the background.
What Truly Matters?
Sleep becomes a rare commodity, especially when your baby views your body as an all-night buffet. The focus shifts to producing ample milk, avoiding the painful affliction of mastitis, and ensuring that partners are on board with takeout for the foreseeable future. In the whirlwind of early motherhood, the feelings of anyone besides a cranky toddler are often dismissed.
The study indicates that while processing facial expressions and emotional cues are affected, the specifics of which gray matter areas decline remain somewhat ambiguous. However, from my perspective, having navigated through pregnancy twice, I have a few other thoughts on the brain areas that might be impacted:
- The area responsible for remembering when you last washed your hair—thank goodness for dry shampoo, right?
- Your sense of smell, which seems to sharpen solely regarding your own unwashed state and your baby’s unique odors.
- The politeness filter that reminds you to tolerate unsolicited belly touches from strangers—seriously, keep your hands to yourself.
- The ability to care about how you look in a bathing suit—spoiler alert: it’s diminished.
- The annoyance threshold for anyone who doesn’t share your excitement regarding your pregnancy journey.
- The capacity to endure the smell of fried foods—especially when nausea strikes at all-day breakfast spots.
- The self-control area that advises against devouring an entire plate of nachos. Limits? What limits?
- The impulse to respond to inquiries about twins with a calm demeanor—unless you’ve seen an ultrasound, it’s best to hold your tongue.
- The portion of your brain that tells you to change out of that week-old T-shirt—though you probably won’t care anyway.
- The urge to scream at strangers sharing horror stories in the grocery store—you know who you are.
These are just a handful of the brain functions that seem to shift during and after pregnancy. The truth is, we may forget some of these details due to “pregnancy brain,” but the sacrifices made in memory, energy, and even identity are worth it for those little bundles of joy.
If you’re interested in learning more about the intricacies of pregnancy and home insemination, check out our other blog posts here. For a reliable source on home insemination, visit Make A Mom. And for further insights, the NHS provides excellent resources on pregnancy and related topics.
In Summary
Pregnancy undoubtedly alters a woman’s brain, impacting both emotional perception and cognitive function. While this might sound alarming, many women can relate to the humorous side effects of pregnancy brain as they juggle the challenges of new motherhood.