{"id":33450,"date":"2023-09-10T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-10T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/28bf001f-9d36-4a7f-af74-0c53cf1f4190"},"modified":"2023-09-10T11:47:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T09:47:14","slug":"heres-why-baby-brain-can-change-a-new-parents-mind","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/heres-why-baby-brain-can-change-a-new-parents-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s why \u2018baby brain\u2019 can change a new parent\u2019s mind"},"content":{"rendered":"

The mental changes a mother goes through during pregnancy can be attributed to hormones, physical changes in the brain and sleep deprivation. <\/p>

By Holly McHugh\n <\/p>

Published: Sunday, 10 September 2023 at 09:00 AM<\/p>

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The changes a mother\u2019s body goes through during pregnancy are complex, extraordinary and go far beyond a bulbous belly, cravings and swollen ankles.\u00a0Many women also experience mental changes, such as forgetfulness, brain fog, poor attention and focus.<\/p>

This is commonly referred to as\u00a0\u2018baby brain\u2019\u00a0and describes the\u00a0general feeling of not being quite on the ball mentally.\u00a0Scientists have proven it is real and that the brain undergoes physiological alterations.\u00a0<\/p>

Baby brain can strike as early as the first trimester\u00a0and\u00a0can\u00a0last for years \u2013 even after the baby is born. Although the reasons behind\u00a0it\u00a0are not entirely understood, there are a few things we do know that may contribute to mothers\u2019 temporary cognitive decline.<\/p>

Hormonal changes<\/h2>

During pregnancy, a woman\u00a0experiences significant hormonal changes, including surges\u00a0in oestrogen and progesterone. Elevated levels of these two hormones have an enormous impact, both physically and mentally.\u00a0They can affect our ability to think clearly, focus and recall\u00a0information, causing a\u00a0feeling of\u00a0brain fog.<\/p>

Studies have found that pregnant women may have particular difficulty remembering locations and spatial relations<\/a> between objects, a cognitive function known as spatial memory. This explains why so many pregnant people are always searching for their car keys!<\/p>

Pregnancy can also be a stressful time\u00a0and heightened stress levels trigger the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which is known to affect brain function including memory<\/a>, attention and\u00a0decision-making.\u00a0<\/p>

Sleep deprivation<\/h2>

Unfortunately, growing a baby and\u00a0caring for a newborn\u00a0is often accompanied by severe sleep deprivation. Insomnia can start early on in pregnancy and once the baby is born, sleep can become even more elusive.<\/p>

This can contribute to baby brain because sleep is essential for the brain to restore its energy levels and carry out important housekeeping tasks,\u00a0such as\u00a0removing toxic waste and repairing brain cells, ensuring we wake up feeling refreshed and energised.<\/p>

A lack of good-quality sleep can lead to poor memory, concentration and a general \u2018zombie\u2019 feeling.<\/p>

Physical changes in the brain<\/h2>

Recent studies have found that women\u2019s brains during pregnancy undergo some astounding physical changes that may contribute to baby brain<\/a>. Scientists have discovered that pregnant women\u2019s brains have dramatically reduced volumes of grey matter in the regions associated with processing social information.<\/p>

It\u2019s believed these adaptive changes help fine-tune and prepare the brain for maternal behaviour, such as\u00a0learning to\u00a0read the plethora of baby expressions and forming a strong mother-child attachment. So, while\u00a0pregnant women might be losing their car keys\u00a0repeatedly, they\u2019re more than equipped to care for their baby \u2013 despite the presence of baby brain.<\/p>

Although baby brain is understandably frustrating and upsetting at times, it is important to note that it\u2019s a natural and common pregnancy symptom, and the mental fog does eventually clear. It\u2019s all part of the body\u2019s way of transitioning into motherhood.\u00a0<\/p>

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