Skip to content

Just added to your cart

    Qty:
    View cart ()
    Logo
    Log in Cart
    0 items
    • Shop
      Heartbeat Animals Accessories Supplies Gender Reveal Supplies Ultrasound Gifts Bargain Cave Sponsorship
    • About Us
      Our History FAQs Videos
    • Pregnancy Blog
    • Contact Us
    • Orders
    • .
    Access Denied
    IMPORTANT! If you’re a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts
    Home My Baby's Heartbeat Bear Pregnancy Leads to Long-Lasting Changes in the Mother’s Brain
    • mommy brain
    • Pregnancy

    Pregnancy Leads to Long-Lasting Changes in the Mother’s Brain

    Elizabeth MacDonald
    May 17, 2018
    Pregnancy Leads to Long-Lasting Changes in the Mother’s Brain

    We go from “normal” to “Mommy Brain” in 9 months, but it seems to only be a joke that most women blame for leaving their keys in the freezer. We are not crazy! Mothers across the worlds can rejoice because science has proven that we are not making it all up.

    In 2002, researchers revealed that the memory issues mothers claim to have while pregnant or in early motherhood are, in fact, a reality. There have been multiple studies and research projects that show just how pregnancy and birth alter the brain, but few have involved humans instead of animals. Nature Neuroscience published a study in 2016 that involved 25 first-time mothers, comparing brain scans to those of 19 first-time fathers, 17 men without children, and 20 women who had never given birth.

    They published a follow-up study in 2022 that confirmed the original findings.

    What do you think was found?

     

     

    brainmatter

     

     

     

    That’s right, reduced grey matter. What, you didn’t guess that?

    Neuroscientist Elseline Hoekzema and colleagues found that pregnancy actually reshapes the brain of mothers. This ‘reshaping’ effects the brain for at least two years postpartum.

    Fellow mothers, that means that when our babies hit toddlerhood, we (technically) are still out of our right minds. That could be a deadly combination when paired with those two-year-old tantrums!

    (No wonder we want wine.)

    The part of the brain (medial frontal and posterior cortex) that we utilize to think, retain thoughts, feel, and exhibit intentions to others or ourselves showed significant grey matter reduction. You would think this would make us less intelligent, but alas, it seems that motherhood makes us that much more in tune to life around us. Yes, we may forget small things on a regular basis throughout pregnancy and early-motherhood, but it seems that this shift matures our brains.

    The study revealed that mothers with the highest loss (or shrinkage) of grey matter have the highest quality of mother-to-infant attachment after birth.

    This explains why my natural Type-A personality has become a bit more lax over the 8 years I had 5 babies! My brain became more mature and aware of the needs of my children, pushing aside the things I once thought were so important. 

    Want to read more about the studies?

    Click Here for the 2016 study.

    Click Here for the 2022 study. 

    Previous Post
    Ditch The Baby Shoes: Why Barefoot Is Best
    Ditch The Baby Shoes: Why Barefoot Is Best
    7/26/2023
    Next Post
    Easy Toddler Lunchbox Ideas for the Busy (pregnant) Mom
    Easy Toddler Lunchbox Ideas for the Busy (pregnant) Mom
    8/4/2023
    Share
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    Share
    Email
    Comments
    Leave a comment
    Your Email Address Will Not Be Published. Required Fields Are Marked *
    Subscribe to our Newsletter
    Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our articles & discounts.

    Email have already subscribed!

    Vintage Giraffe

    Vintage Giraffe

    wholesale-cta_600x600_30ffe1f1-22dd-4d5c-9b4f-0fe47d46626e
    Featured Articles
    Beat the Heat: 6 Ways to Keep Your Dog Happy in the Summer Sun

    Beat the Heat: 6 Ways to Keep Your Dog Happy in the Summer Sun

    Jul 16, 2025
    Christmas in July: Summer Spin on Santa

    Christmas in July: Summer Spin on Santa

    Jul 14, 2025
    A Summer Puppy: Everything You Need to Know

    A Summer Puppy: Everything You Need to Know

    Jul 8, 2025
    Importance of Hydration for a Summer Pregnancy

    Importance of Hydration for a Summer Pregnancy

    Jul 7, 2025
    Invalid password
    Enter

    Featured On

    • Logo
    • Logo
    • Logo
    • Logo
    • Logo
    Badge
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    Subscribe and Save!

    Receive updates, access to exclusive deals, and more!

    Shop
    • My Baby’s Heartbeat Bear
    • My Angel’s Heartbeat Bear
    • My Furbaby’s Heartbeat Bear
    • Gender Reveal Gifts
    Support
    • Contact Us
    • Shipping & Returns
    • FAQs
    • Search
    • Accessibility Statement
    Find Out More
    • Store Locator
    • Become a Wholesaler
    • Login
    • Blog
    • About Us
    Download the App

    Record your baby’s heartbeat with our app for safekeeping

    FIND OUT MORE
    © 2020 My Baby's Heartbeat Bear. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions
    Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device
    • Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
    • Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.
    • Tutus
    • Bow Ties
    • Magnetic Ultrasound Frames
    • Gender Reveal Color Blasters
    • Ultrasound Heart Pillows
    • Gender Reveal Balloons
    • Gender Reveal Shirts
    • Digital Video Frames
    • Gender Reveal Scratch Off Cards
    • Ultrasound Photo Albums
    • Wooden Silhouette Frames
    • Wooden Ultrasound Ornaments
    • Heart Beats Shirts
    • Ultrasound Cards
    • Ultrasound Frames
    • It's a Girl & It's a Boy Shirts
    • Sweaters
    • Lil Sis & Lil Bro Shirts
    • Camo Shirt
    • Ceramic Ultrasound Ornaments
    • Valentine Heart Pillows
    • Ultrasound Frame Shirts
    • Gender Reveal Kit
    • Gift Card
    • Product Catalog Digital Download
    • Custom Embroidered Sweaters
    • Donate Angel Bears to Parents of Loss
    • Vintage Glass Ornaments
    • Graduation Bear
    My Baby's Heartbeat Bear true grid__item grid__item--collection-template small--one-half medium-up--one-quarter pb-5 mt-4 mb-5 true true false infinite_mf2311bc_btn_01 8

    2025-05-01-02

    CANCELED

    free

    CANCELED

    Route A : Can use