One of the most interesting moments in my clinic takes place when I meet first-time mothers. When I inquire how their pregnancy unfolded and how they are adjusting to their new responsibilities as a mom, I am always impressed by nature’s ways to remould the brain of a new mom. This process is known as
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One of the most interesting moments in my clinic takes place when I meet first-time mothers.
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When I inquire how their pregnancy unfolded and how they are adjusting to their new responsibilities as a mom, I am always impressed by nature’s ways to remould the brain of a new mom. This process is known as neuroplasticity of the brain during pregnancy and early motherhood.
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It takes a lot of effort and wisdom to handle the sleep deprivation and hormonal changes which impact the brain’s functioning.
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A vast number of expectant and new moms report being more forgetful, feeling their brain has become “foggy,” and finding that their ability to concentrate and multitask may have changed noticeably. This condition is often referred to as “Mommy Brain.”
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In the September 2024 edition of the journal Nature Neurosciences, researchers reported the results of brain scans on pregnant moms. A research team led by Drs. Laura Pritschet and Emily Jacobs at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Elizabeth Chrastil at the University of California, Irvine, confirmed the neuroplasticity in the brain’s anatomy as a result of being pregnant.
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Of major note was a reduction in gray matter volume. Gray matter contains the bodies of neurons, synapses and important glial cells, which are found in the brain’s surface layer known as the cortex. These changes in gray matter volume are thought to be temporary.
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In addition to gray matter changes, there were also white matter changes observed via MRI studies. The integrity of white matter increased throughout the first two trimesters of pregnancy, according to this study, but after birth returned to baseline levels.
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During the second and third trimesters, the volume of cerebrospinal fluid increased, but then dropped sharply after the birth of a baby.
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The implications of various changes being mapped may still not be entirely clear. The brain is indeed complex. The brain, especially during pregnancy, is possibly the one organ in the body we understand the least — there is much more to be explored.
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One of the world’s most renowned brain explorers is Dr. Daniel Amen, who is a pioneer in scanning the brain. Amen considers brain scans as essential in managing mental wellness, similar to a nephrologist who would not dream of treating patients without doing a urine test, or a cardiologist who would want to run at least an electrocardiogram or an echocardiogram to grasp the patient’s heart anatomy and function.
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