Women’s brains undergo considerable remodeling during pregnancy, which lasts for at least two years after birth. According to a study published in Nature Neuroscience, preliminary evidence shows that this remodeling may help women adjust to childbirth.
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Pregnancy brain: Real?
Photo by cottonbro
In an article by Scientific American, a research team led by Leiden University neuroscientist Elseline Hoekzema discovered significant gray matter changes in brain regions related to social cognition and theory of mind before and after pregnancy, the same regions that were active when women looked at images of their infants.
These changes, which lasted two years after birth, predicted women’s scores on a maternal attachment test and were so clear that they could be used by a computer program to tell which women were pregnant.
One of the hallmarks of pregnancy is a considerable rise in sex steroid hormones like progesterone and estrogen, which help a woman’s body prepare for childbirth.
Our bodies only release such large levels of these hormones at one other time in our lives: puberty. Previous research has indicated that these hormones cause significant physical and organizational changes in the brain throughout puberty.
During adolescence, both boys and girls lose gray matter when superfluous brain connections are cut and their brains are shaped into adult shapes. However, there has been very little research on anatomical brain changes during pregnancy.
What does research say about pregnancy brain fog
Gray matter losses in new moms were shown to last for at least two years after birth, according to the study. This loss, however, is not always bad (according to Hoekzema, “the localization was quite remarkable”); it occurred in brain regions involved in social cognition, particularly in the network dedicated to theory of mind.
Which helps us think about what’s going on in another’s mind—regions that had the strongest response when mothers looked at photos of their infants.
These brain changes could be used to predict how moms will score on the attachment scale. Researchers were able to tell which women were new mothers solely based on their gray matter loss patterns using a computer algorithm. Gray matter loss was not seen in new fathers or nonparents.
It’s unclear why pregnant women lose gray matter, but Hoekzema believes it’s because their brains become more specialized in ways that help them adjust to motherhood and respond to the needs of their offspring.
This idea is supported by preliminary results from the study. While the current study focuses on recording brain changes throughout pregnancy, she anticipates that future research will focus on more practical topics such as how brain changes connect to postpartum depression or mother-child attachment disorders.
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Pregnancy brain fog early in pregnancy
Pregnancy brain fog varies depending on women. Symptoms can develop as early as the first trimester when hormone changes are most noticeable, and moms-to-be are more vulnerable due to mood swings and exhaustion.
However, it can happen later in pregnancy. Discomfort, cramps, and a lack of sleep all increase in the third trimester diverting you from your everyday duties.
How long does pregnancy brain last and does pregnancy brain go away?
According to a new study, the architecture of women’s brains changes substantially after their first pregnancies. These changes will last at least two years.
Gray matter loss is most noticeable in areas that process and respond to social cues. This could mean that new mothers’ brains are better wired in areas that allow them to respond to their infant’s requests or recognize dangerous people in their environment.
The changes happened whether a woman conceived naturally or through IVF, and they were linked to routine examinations of a mother’s connection to her kid.
While many people believe that “pregnancy brain” symptoms go away once the baby is born, research shows that this condition might linger for years. Pregnancy brain fog often known as “baby brain,” can remain for at least two years after birth, according to a study published in Nature Neuroscience in December 2016.
Pregnancy brain symptoms
Photo by cottonbroish
Pregnancy brain fog, also known as “momnesia” or “baby brain”, refers to the cognitive difficulties and brain fog that some women experience during pregnancy and sometimes after birth. The following are some of the signs and symptoms:
- difficulties with memory
- forgetfulness
- issues with concentration
- absentmindedness
- clumsiness
- disorientation
- reading difficulties
- having trouble remembering names and words
Pregnancy brain fog causes
While the specific cause of pregnant brain fog is uncertain, some theories are:
- Hormones. Throughout pregnancy, your body experiences a surge of hormone changes. This results in severe physiological changes, which may affect the brain and memory.
- Sleep Problems and other sleep disturbances affect more than half of pregnant women. Sleep deprivation has been shown to impact memory and cognitive processes.
- Stress and anxiety. It makes sense: fear or excitement about this new experience and the significant life changes it will bring may cause you to become distracted, affecting your ability to concentrate and recall information.
- The brain’s structure changes. A few small studies have revealed that the brain structure of pregnant women alters. These modifications may last for at least six years after delivery.
According to researchers, the body is deleting redundant neural networks in order to make the brain more efficient and specialized for motherhood, which could help mothers bond with and respond to their newborns. They also believe that memory loss is linked to changes in brain architecture.
What to do with pregnancy brain fog
There are a few things you can take to minimize pregnant brain fog and maintain your mental acuity during pregnancy and afterward.
1. Take postnatal vitamins
Photo by SHVETS production from Pexels
Postnatal vitamins are designed to meet the health requirements of new moms. Many of the same ingredients are included in prenatal vitamins, but some varieties also address postpartum concerns.
For example, postnatal vitamins can be adjusted to help moms recover after delivery or increase supply when breastfeeding. Many of them also address hormone shifts or changes in sleep-wake patterns that are common when you have a newborn.
Postnatal vitamins contain a variety of nutrients depending on their intended function, but they typically include the following:
- Iron is essential for hemoglobin formation and oxygen distribution throughout the body. Anemia can be caused by a lack of it in new mothers. Iron aids brain development in babies. Most infants have adequate iron stores for the first four months of life, according to the CDC, but breastfed babies are typically anemic beyond that. When babies first start eating solid foods, iron-rich foods can help them meet their nutritional needs.
- DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in prenatal and postnatal supplementation. It’s crucial not just for a pregnant woman’s developing brain, but also for newborns and babies throughout this era of rapid growth.
- Vitamin D (calciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be taken via diet, sunlight, or supplementation. This vitamin promotes calcium absorption and is therefore necessary for bone growth. It can also aid in the reduction of inflammation. Breastfeeding mothers should ingest 600 international units (IU) per day.
- Choline is required for brain growth, just like DHA. It also provides a number of benefits for women, including a better immune response.
Women should consume 450 milligrams (mg) of choline per day during pregnancy and 550 mg per day when breastfeeding, according to the Institute of Medicine (formerly known as the National Academy of Medicine).
- Vitamins for postpartum women may also include:
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Riboflavin
- Biotin
- Calcium
- Iodine
- Zinc
2. Sleep
Make sure you get enough sleep each night because lack of sleep has a significant impact on your cognitive function. If you’re having trouble sleeping, we have some options for you.
3. Take a healthy diet
You’ve probably observed that if you don’t consume a well-balanced diet, you’re less attentive even before you’re pregnant. Consuming nutritious foods keeps you energized and alert.
4. Exercise
Memory and cognition improve with regular exercise. It also helps your body prepare for delivery by alleviating drowsiness caused by pregnancy.
5. Ask for help
Request help with chores, errands, and childcare from your partner, family, or friends. Less stress implies less anxiety, which might influence your capacity to remember things.
6. Slow down
Stop multitasking and focus what’s important versus what’s not. Save your strength for the things that matter most to you.
7. Keep a daily calendar handy
Use the calendar app on your phone or bring a little planner with you.
8. Make a “home” for important objects.
Store regularly used items, such as keys, in the same place. Get some high-tech key and wallet trackers instead.
9. Set alarms and reminders
Set reminders for important meetings or assignments on your phone or computer.
10. Make use of mnemonic devices
When you meet someone new, consider making an association to help you remember their name. Consider meeting Lily and seeing her with a bouquet of lilies in her hand.
11. Take photographs
Take a photo of the area using your phone if you park your car in a large or crowded lot. You can also use images to record visual notes from objects like meeting presentations, event posters, business cards, and magazine articles.
12. Consider using a note-taking app
Use an app on your phone to keep track of important information.
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.