A second pregnancy changes the brain in a well-known and different way than the first, according to a new study published by Amsterdam UMC. nature communications. Researchers found that each pregnancy leaves a unique imprint on a mother’s brain, building on previous research showing that the first pregnancy reshapes the brain.
In a previous study, Elseline Hoekzema and colleagues demonstrated for the first time that pregnancy changes the structure of the human brain. They also showed that pregnancy affects brain function. For this latest study, the research team followed 110 women over time. Some are pregnant with their first child, some with their second, and some with no children. The researchers tracked how the brain changed throughout the study by performing repeated brain scans.
“This shows for the first time that the brain changes not only during the first pregnancy, but also during the second,” says Hoekzema, director of the Pregnancy Brain Laboratory at UMC Amsterdam. “During the first and second pregnancies, the brain changes in both similar and unique ways. Each pregnancy leaves a unique imprint on a woman’s brain.”
Brain networks change in different ways
Researchers found that the first pregnancy produced the greatest changes in the structure and activity of the brain’s default mode network, a system involved in self-reflection, social thinking, and other important mental functions.
During the second pregnancy, this same network changed again, albeit to a lesser extent. Instead, the most significant changes occurred in brain networks that direct attention and respond to sensory information.
“During the second pregnancy, the brain networks involved in responding to sensory signals and controlling attention seem to change more strongly,” said researcher Milou Strathoff, who analyzed the data. “These processes can be helpful when caring for multiple children.”
Brain changes associated with maternal bonding and mental health
The study also revealed a link between pregnancy-related brain changes and the emotional bond between mother and child. This connection was stronger after the first pregnancy than after the second.
Researchers also identified a link between structural brain changes during the first and second pregnancies and perinatal depression. The researchers say this is the first evidence that changes in the cerebral cortex during pregnancy are associated with maternal depression.
The timing of these associations varies by pregnancy history. In primiparous women, it was most pronounced after delivery. For women expecting a second child, it was more pronounced during pregnancy.
“This knowledge can help us better understand and recognize maternal mental health issues. Understanding how the brain adapts to motherhood is important.”
understanding the mother’s brain
The findings provide new insight into the remarkable adaptive capacity of mothers’ brains. Most women experience at least one pregnancy in their lifetime, but scientists are only beginning to understand how pregnancy affects the brain in the long term.
Researchers say these findings help fill important gaps in knowledge about women’s biology and could ultimately improve care for mothers, including efforts to prevent and treat postpartum depression. The study also highlights the brain’s remarkable ability to continuously adapt to major life experiences such as pregnancy and motherhood.
