LifestyleThe study on brain changes during pregnancy explained; Functions of gray matter and white matter
DearDuring pregnancy, new changes occur every day in a woman’s body. Most physical changes are visible from the outside. But other than that, there are many changes that we don’t see. Many changes also occur at the hormonal, cardiac, respiratory, digestive and urinary levels. All these natural changes prepare the woman for creation.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that during pregnancy, many changes occur in the brain as well as the woman’s body. No such study has been carried out before. There may be several reasons for this. First of all, women have never been at the center of science and research. The second reason is that it was never thought that changes occurred in a woman’s brain during pregnancy.
These changes in the brain help women become better mothers. This makes them more able to understand their child’s feelings and needs. Due to this change, they also have to face many problems like memory loss.
so today’In the medical file“We will know what changes occur in women’s brains during pregnancy?
What do these changes in the brain mean? What is the function of gray matter and white matter in the brain? Are there also changes in the brains of men? How much does this help the relationship between child and mother?
What was found in the study
A study of a pregnant woman’s brain, published in Nature Neuroscience on September 16, found that during pregnancy, not only do physical changes occur in the woman, but many mental changes also occur. Even the structure of the brain changes. The outer layer of the brain begins to thin. The volume of this part also begins to decrease. As the inner layer of the brain thickens and meanwhile its volume also increases.
See the full details of this study in the graphic below.
What is the function of gray matter in the brain?
Gray matter is the outer layer of the brain, made up of neurons and the tissues that help do their work. What does this gray matter do, see in the graph-
For good health of this part of the brain, regular physical activity, a balanced diet and sufficient sleep of 7 hours are very important. Since changes occur in a woman’s brain during pregnancy and gray matter decreases, it becomes even more important to take care of it.
What is the function of white matter in the brain?
White matter is the inner layer of the brain. This helps by strengthening neuron connections and transmitting signals more quickly. See details in chart-
For good health, it is important to avoid smoking and all intoxicating substances. Exercise daily, get enough sleep, and increase omega-3-rich foods in your diet.
Why do brain changes occur during pregnancy?
All natural changes in our body occur for one reason or another. Meanwhile, nature prepares us for the circumstances to come.
Understand it this way: if a lion suddenly appears in front of us or we are trapped in a fire, then the “fight or flight mode” is activated in the brain. This means that during this time our brain quickly releases such hormones, with the help of which we are able to cope with them or save ourselves by running away. According to gynecologist Dr Shilpa, all these changes are normal.
These changes in the brain are necessary before becoming a mother
When a woman becomes a mother for the first time, she doesn’t have much knowledge about babies’ body language. In such a situation, these brain changes during pregnancy prepare women to better understand the body language (non-verbal) of newborns. A newborn has no language to express its needs. That’s why he cries every time when he’s hungry, when his pants are wet, when he gets hurt, when he’s thirsty, when he needs to sleep. The mother understands what the child needs from the way he cries. This is only possible because of this change in the brain.
These changes in the gray matter and white matter of the brain bring the mother closer to her child. This strengthens the bond between the two.
Memory and decision-making are impaired
A decrease in gray matter in the brain can lead to mild memory loss. This is the reason why women start forgetting small things after a few months of pregnancy. Gray matter is responsible for our ability to make decisions. In such a situation, due to the reduction in its volume, the decision-making ability is also affected. Due to reduced gray matter, it is difficult to concentrate on work. It becomes difficult to keep things organized. There is a study published in the National Library of Medicine on this subject. It has been revealed that more than 80% of pregnant women go through a brain pregnancy.
There is no change in the father’s mind
According to a study published in Nature Neuroscience in 2016, there are no changes in the structure of the father’s brain during this period. This change occurs only in the structure of the mother’s brain.