Will I become less intelligent after getting pregnant?
Some people say, yes!
Some people say, no!
It seems this matter is not so simple after all.
In fact, the saying "pregnancy makes you stupid for three years" also has an English equivalent: "baby brain."
Although the names are different, it's like putting old wine in new bottles; the mothers' "symptoms" are all similar:
What I was just thinking about, I forgot it in the blink of an eye?
Are you always forgetful and can't find your keys or wallet?
Looking for your phone while holding it?
......
Since these phenomena are described as "scientific," are they actually scientific or not?
Research on "baby brain" is mainly divided into three camps:
① The "Indeed Foolish" Team
One camp believes that "baby brain" does exist, mainly manifested as mild memory disorders such as forgetfulness.
In 2018, a study from Australia, after conducting a controlled study of 709 pregnant women and 521 non-pregnant women, found that:
During the last three months of pregnancy, a pregnant woman's cognitive abilities, memory, and executive function all decline significantly.
This phenomenon is not clearly visible in the first two or three months of pregnancy.
However, researchers also stated that, apart from these differences in abilities, the pregnant women's overall performance and abilities were still within the normal range.
Another retrospective study conducted in 2007 also found that pregnant women experienced significant impairment in memory during pregnancy and postpartum, especially in memory skills that required high cognitive abilities.
② The "Still Clever" Team
The second camp believes that pregnancy has no impact on a woman's cognitive abilities.
The earliest evidence dates back to 1999.
Researchers conducted memory level tests on pregnant women, and the results depended primarily on the participants' own recollections.
At the same time, they also used seven objective memory tests, including incidental memory, semantic memory, short-term memory, and working memory, to conduct a detailed examination of possible sites of memory changes in pregnant and postpartum women.
After comparing the results of the two tests, researchers found that pregnant and postpartum women experienced more frequent forgetting in the self-test compared to non-pregnant women, but the objective test did not reveal such a difference.
Self-testing also revealed that lack of sleep may be a major factor contributing to memory decline.
However, objective tests still did not find such a correlation.
In response, researchers stated, "Expectant mothers should trust that they have normal cognitive abilities."
In 2015, another study found similar results.
Researchers from Brigham Young University in the United States conducted two cognitive and neuropsychological tests on 21 pregnant and non-pregnant women.
The first time was in late pregnancy, and the second time was 6 months after delivery.
The results showed that there were no significant differences in non-verbal memory, distractibility, and concentration between the two groups of women before and after the birth of their children.
Therefore, current research conclusions on the "baby brain" issue are inconsistent.
Interestingly, unlike most research topics that are "black and white," there is a third camp here that takes a neutral stance!
③ Neutral Squad
In 2016, a Nature sub-journal published an article stating that pregnancy has long-term effects on the mother's brain.
Title: Long-term changes in human brain structure caused by pregnancy
Researchers have found that women who are pregnant for the first time experience a continuous decrease in the volume of gray matter in their brains, which lasts for at least two years.
The gray matter of the brain, also known as the cerebral cortex, is mainly responsible for processing external information and making corresponding decisions.
If we liken the central nervous system to the leader of the body, then the gray matter of the brain is the leader of the central nervous system.
Lead researcher Dr. Elseline stated, "The reduction in gray matter in the pregnant woman's brain is likely a result of the brain's own fine-tuning, rather than a negative effect of pregnancy. This is because in this study, none of the mothers exhibited changes in memory or cognitive function."
In other words, during pregnancy, expectant mothers' brains may be optimizing to meet the needs of their future baby.
So, what are the current explanations for those "becoming stupid" behaviors?
Rapid changes in hormones in the body, such as estrogen, progesterone, and oxytocin, can affect the brain's nervous system, leading to cognitive decline.
However, this decline is temporary and will recover within a few months.
Some scholars believe that the so-called decline in cognitive ability and memory may not be caused by pregnancy, but rather that pregnant women are more likely to associate these changes with pregnancy.
So, in closing, I'd like to remind all mothers:
Don't give yourself the mental suggestion that you'll "become stupid"!
Ensure sufficient sleep, learn to regulate your emotions, and release stress.
Your baby will definitely be as healthy and smart as you!
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