What Happens to a Woman’s Brain When She Becomes a Mother?
Most women who have had children are fully aware of the hormonal and emotional changes that they experience. However, science is only just starting to understand how these changes occur in human mothers’ brains. While mothers know what it feels like to experience these changes, most of us don’t know exactly what happens to a woman’s brain when she becomes a mother. Turns out, a lot is happening!
What Happens in the Brain After Becoming a Mom
Maternal brain changes are so pronounced that machine learning algorithms can determine who has had a baby and who hasn’t merely by examining brain scans. Specific areas of the brain are reduced, incur more robust responses, or adapt uniquely during pregnancy and postpartum. All of these changes are meant to reinforce and motivate maternal care behavior.
Your brain is…