Pregnancy brain is real! Study shows pregnancy changes 94% of a mother’s brain
Scientists confirm that pregnancy brain isn’t a myth—pregnancy physically reshapes nearly all of a mother’s brain.
If you've ever felt forgetful or emotionally heightened during pregnancy, science has your back.
A groundbreaking new study from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) found that pregnancy physically changes 94% of a mother’s brain, particularly in areas linked to social cognition, emotional processing, and maternal bonding.
Researchers say these changes, driven by pregnancy hormones, help prepare mothers for parenthood and can even influence their connection with their baby.
What happens to the brain during pregnancy?
Researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and international collaborators conducted the largest-ever neuroimaging study on pregnancy.
Using MRI scans, they tracked the brains of 179 women before conception, during pregnancy, and postpartum.
The findings confirmed that pregnancy leads to a reduction of up to 4.9% in grey matter volume, particularly in areas involved in social interactions and emotional regulation.
While some recovery occurs after birth, these adaptations are thought to help new mums respond instinctively to their baby’s needs.
To separate the effects of pregnancy from the general experience of becoming a parent, the study also included non-gestational mothers—women whose partners were pregnant.
The results showed that the brain changes were primarily biological, rather than caused by sleep deprivation or new responsibilities.
The role of hormones in pregnancy brain
The research found that these brain changes closely follow fluctuations in pregnancy hormones, particularly two forms of oestrogen—estriol-3-sulfate and estrone-sulfate.
These hormones rise dramatically during pregnancy and drop postpartum, mirroring the structural changes in the brain.
Interestingly, the study found that women who experienced greater recovery of grey matter postpartum also reported a stronger emotional bond with their baby at six months.
This suggests that these brain changes are an important part of the transition to motherhood.
So, is ‘pregnancy brain’ real?
Yes! While “pregnancy brain” is often associated with forgetfulness or brain fog, this research shows that pregnancy genuinely rewires the brain.
Instead of being a sign of cognitive decline, these changes are likely an evolutionary advantage—helping mothers tune in to their baby’s needs and emotions.
What does this mean for maternal mental health?
By mapping out these changes, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how pregnancy impacts maternal mental health.
Future research could explore whether differences in brain recovery postpartum play a role in conditions like postnatal depression, potentially leading to better support and treatments for new mums.
Pregnancy doesn’t just change your body—it changes your brain, too. And now, science confirms that pregnancy brain is very, very real.
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Authors
Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.
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