nieman: 'mommy brain' is real—allows attention and focus to shift to newborn
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physiological changes in brain functioning is nature’s way of equipping the new mom to shift her focus onto the baby’s needs and to become more intentional at “reading” her infant.
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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 neuroplasticity of the brain during pregnancy and early motherhood.
it takes a lot of effort and wisdom to handle the sleep deprivation and hormonal changes which impact the brain’s functioning.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
in his world-famous clinic, amen prefers to use a scan known as a spect scan — single-photon emission computed tomography. the activity of a brain is better understood when this tool is used. more dynamic studies are needed to map out the functional changes that occur in the brain during various trimesters and when a mom cares for her newborn.
on his website, amen refers to the mommy brain in more detail and explains why pregnant moms have legitimate excuses for being more forgetful, finding it hard to concentrate, and being hyper-focused on their babies, as opposed to other cognitive skills.
i once met a female family doctor who told me a story of when she was a new mom. she left her baby at home with a reliable caregiver and cut her time short in the clinic. after the last patient was seen, this new mom, a doctor, raced home and parked her car on a slight slope outside her home. she rushed into the house to check on her baby, keen to find out how the first day without the full presence of the mom went. the baby was fine, but the car was dangling over an edge. she forgot to park the car properly and apply a handbrake.
dealing with these physiological changes in brain functioning can be more stressful if mothers are unaware that it is normal — it is part of nature’s way to equip the mom to shift her focus onto the baby’s needs and to become more intentional at “reading” her infant (the so-called emotional intelligence of responding to the baby).
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as is the case with so many other mental challenges, there are always degrees of change. post-partum depression occurs in 20 per cent of mothers and, if the mood changes and stress becomes more and more extreme, then the diagnosis should shift away from mommy brain toward depression.
researchers are hoping that functional brain imaging may facilitate an improved understanding not only of the brain’s neuroplasticity during pregnancy and the post-partum period, but also of post-partum depression. early detection of post-partum depression remains elusive, and earlier detection means earlier treatment and thus a better quality of life for both the mother and her baby.
dr. nieman is the founder of centre 70 pediatrics. he has written monthly columns for the herald since 1999.
this article was originally published in the calgary herald on july 26, 2025.
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