For how common the phrase 'mommy brain' is, we still don't know much about how pregnancy, birth, and postpartum alter a person's brain.
Chrastil underwent 26 MRIs, spread out between three weeks before she conceived and two years postpartum. The results revealed structural changes in her brain.
About 80% of the regions in her brain experienced a decrease in gray matter, averaging a 4% decrease, consistent with past studies.
Reduced gray matter is associated with health risks like depression; however, these changes might be useful for better bonding or caregiving to the infant.
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