The truth about BABY BRAIN
This post is going to lay out some facts about baby brain that most people don’t know.
The stigma around a woman’s capability after they have a baby is real. Seen as ditsy, forgetful, more emotional or even hysterical. There is this idea that somewhere between the sleep deprivation and the slower paced existence, that they become almost unreliable.
The patriarchal systems we live within tell us that these vital biological shifts that happen to us as women, are not consistent with being a productive member of society… and so the shame and isolation sets in.
Yes, it’s true that women can be more forgetful and emotional but the part that’s missing is the science behind the particular magic that is happening.
The shifts that occur in the brain during pregnancy and after birth leave women much more attuned to their babies needs. The term peripartal plasticity was created to describe this incredible maternal experience.
Our Neuroplasticity is particularly high at this time in our life, meaning we are more adaptable and find it easier to learn new skills. Our senses and emotions may be heightened to attune to the constant needs of our vulnerable, new little bubs. This is a time of life when our brains are completely preoccupied with caring for our babies and this is by design. The hormones estrogen and prolactin are a big part of these brain changes.
Biologically speaking, we are being hormonally driven to sense what it is our baby needs which is often, in the most basic terms, to be in some form of connection with us.
So yes, it may be a good idea to have another set of ears at important appointments like with an IBCLC, to help you remember what you talked about. And no, you may not be running a fortune 500 or even remembering where you put the keys, but you did just birth a human and now your brain and body are adjusting to keep you both growing, learning and alive…
I will always be a part of the world that has deep respect for that!
Sources:
Book : Invisible Women - Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
Marian Cleeves Diamond - The History of Neuroscience in Autobiography Volume 6