How "Baby Brain" Makes You Smarter

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So many mamas ask about baby brain.

Maybe you forget your colleague's name.

Or you pack for swimming lessons and arrive with a swim nappy and goggles but no swimmers.

Or you arrive at your appointment on the right day and the right time but on the wrong week.

So is "baby brain" real? Yes.

Is it exaggerated? Often.

So why does it happen? This is why.

Your brain goes through a software upgrade when you're pregnant.

1. Your brain shrinks in specific areas. It deletes some old connections that are unimportant to your baby's survival to make room for new connections that are.

2. You get better at reading body language (not sure if you noticed, but newborns don't talk).

3. You get better at empathising, problem solving and adapting to new tasks (and there are suddenly lots of new problems and tasks).

4. The placenta installs new hormone receptors in your brain so every time you breastfeed it gives you a hit of "feel good" bonding hormones.

5. These same hormones and their extra receptors make you more resilient to stress and lack of sleep.

6. The upgrade continues over the first few years if your baby's life. Your brain volume builds back up to it's original size, with the best of your old skills and new skills combined.

HOW AMAZING IS THAT!

If you loved learning about this and want the detailed version, plus what happens in terms of hormones and rewiring for the non-birth parent, you can grab my

free "Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum" eGuide here.

And if you want to get realllly into it, Dr Oscar Serrallach is the guru on maternal brain changes and physiology. He'll be presenting an interactive webinar with participants in my "Prepared, Together" parenting preparation course in the first week of August 2020. You can view the course outline and sign up here. Join us for six weeks of science, skills, mindset and practical prep for $247 per couple, payment plan option available.

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