If you’ve ever been around someone who’s pregnant, chances are you’ve heard them blame their forgetfulness on “pregnancy brain.” Lost keys? Blame pregnancy brain. Can’t remember what you were about to say? Yup, pregnancy brain strikes again. But is there any real science behind this, or is it just another one of those pregnancy myths? Well, recent research says pregnancy brain is more than just a cute excuse — it’s a legit phenomenon. And yes, your brain actually changes during pregnancy. Wild, right?
We’ve all heard about that mythical “pregnancy glow” (or maybe you’ve experienced it firsthand), but what’s really going on inside your body during those nine months is even more intense. In a groundbreaking new study, researchers tracked the brain of a 38-year-old woman via MRI scans from before she got pregnant through to two years after she gave birth. And the takeaway? The brain actually shrinks during pregnancy. Like, for real.
Here’s what the results of the study has taught us about “pregnancy brain.”
Study shows brain changes may help prepare pregnant people for parenthood
It turns out that your brain isn’t just running on pregnancy hormones and cravings — it’s undergoing a total reorganization. Specifically, there’s a reduction in gray matter, which is the outer layer of the brain that helps with things like memory, decision-making, and social interactions (aka, all the stuff you need to be an adult human). But don’t panic — this shrinkage might actually be your brain’s way of fine-tuning itself to handle the chaotic, beautiful rollercoaster that is parenthood.
Think of it as your brain doing some much-needed spring cleaning. Just like how teens go through hormonal chaos to prep for adulthood, pregnant people’s brains are essentially being reprogrammed for the task of parenting. You might lose some gray matter, but you’re gaining heightened abilities in vigilance, nurturing, and, let’s face it, surviving on minimal sleep (which is clearly the most important new skill). So, while your brain might feel like it’s betraying you when you forget your dentist appointment for the third time, it’s actually making you more equipped to care for a tiny human. And TBH, that sounds like a fair trade-off.
If you’re freaking out thinking, OMG, am I going to lose brain power forever?! Relax. Some of these changes are temporary. The study found that gray matter decreases gradually throughout pregnancy but returns to normal after birth. But here’s where it gets extra interesting: Other changes, like a peak in neural connectivity (essentially how well different parts of your brain communicate), occur during the second trimester and then fade away, which could explain that little burst of energy you get during the middle of pregnancy. And the expansion of cerebrospinal fluid (the stuff that cushions your brain), stick around for a while after giving birth, which might be why some moms still feel a bit “off” even after the baby arrives. So no, it’s not just in your head — well, actually it is in your head, but you get what I mean.
What does this study mean for pregnancy research?
While this study is a huge leap forward in understanding the brain during pregnancy, it’s just the beginning. Researchers are now looking into how these brain changes relate to postnatal depression, pre-eclampsia, and even conditions like migraines and multiple sclerosis. Essentially, they’re trying to figure out why some pregnant people get headaches while others get hit with post-baby blues — and how to help.
One of the coolest things about this study is that it opens the door for way more research into the maternal brain. For a long time, women’s health has been sidelined in medical research (shocking, I know), and this study is a major step toward changing that. It’s the first time we’ve been able to follow these brain changes throughout the entire pregnancy process in real-time.
So pregnancy brain is a real thing. It’s not just about forgetting where you put your phone, it’s your brain literally being remodeled to handle all the intense, life-changing demands of parenthood. Whether it’s losing gray matter or rewiring how different parts of your brain talk to each other, your brain is adapting in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
So next time someone tells you about their “pregnancy brain,” don’t just brush it off as an excuse for forgetting to pick up milk — real changes are happening up there, and they’re making you even more badass than before.
