Khaberni - A scientific study conducted in the Netherlands revealed that a woman's brain undergoes changes during pregnancy, just as it occurs in other parts of the body.
Researchers from the University Medical Center in Amsterdam found that the first and second pregnancies in a woman's life cause similar changes in the brain, with some differences.
During the study, the researchers followed 110 women, some of whom had given birth once, some twice, and some not at all. Repeated MRI scans showed differences in the brain composition of the three groups.
The study, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, showed that changes occur during the first pregnancy in mental functions related to emotional processing, social interaction, and self-thinking.
It noted that during the second pregnancy, greater changes occur regarding attention and response to sensory cues. The head of the study team stated on the "Health Day" website, which specializes in medical research, that "these changes may be beneficial for caring for more than one child."
The study linked the structural changes that occur in a woman's brain to the bonds that form between the mother and her newborn, especially during the first pregnancy, and also between the risks of depression during pregnancy and after childbirth.
The researchers believe that understanding how a woman's brain adapts during motherhood may help doctors and specialists understand and support the mental health of mothers.
