Khaberni - A recent medical study has shown that the first pregnancy significantly affects the structure of the brain in women and the volume of gray matter in it.
The study included 127 women expecting their first child, undergoing MRI scans at several stages: before pregnancy, during the second and third trimester, and then one and six months after childbirth.
Data analysis showed that by the end of pregnancy, the average volume of gray matter in a woman's brain decreases by 5% on average, and it gradually increases afterward but does not return to the level it was at before pregnancy.
The most significant changes were focused in the brain areas responsible for self-awareness, emotions, and social thinking, and the scientists found that these changes are closely linked to fluctuations in estrogen levels during pregnancy, indicating the pivotal role hormones play in reshaping the brain.
The researchers confirm that these changes do not indicate a decline in mental abilities, but on the contrary, these changes may facilitate the adaptation to motherhood, moreover, women whose brains recovered faster after childbirth showed a stronger emotional bond with their children several months after childbirth.
A study conducted by European scientists also showed that the structure of a woman's brain is affected not only during the first pregnancy but also during the second pregnancy, and that "each pregnancy leaves a unique imprint on the tissues of a woman's brain."
