Second pregnancy rewires brain differently than first, study finds
A study from Amsterdam UMC published in Nature Communications reveals that a second pregnancy rewires the maternal brain differently than the first. While first pregnancies primarily alter the Default Mode Network, second pregnancies affect networks for attention and sensory response. The research also links these brain changes to maternal bonding and, for the first time, to peripartum depression, which could improve maternal mental healthcare.
First versus second pregnancy effects
▪Each pregnancy leaves its own unique imprint on the maternal brain, according to the new research.
▪A study by Amsterdam UMC found a second pregnancy changes the brain in ways both familiar and distinct from a first pregnancy.
Brain network structural changes
▪During a second pregnancy, the most noticeable brain changes occur in networks responsible for directing attention and responding to sensory information.
▪A first pregnancy produces the largest changes in the brain's Default Mode Network, a system involved in self-reflection and social thinking.
Maternal bonding correlations
▪The connection between brain changes and maternal bonding was found to be stronger after a first pregnancy than after a second.
▪The study uncovered a relationship between pregnancy-related brain changes and the emotional bond between a mother and child.
Peripartum depression associations
▪For first-time mothers, brain changes associated with depression were most apparent after childbirth, while for second-time mothers, they were more noticeable during pregnancy.
▪Researchers identified links between structural brain changes and peripartum depression during both first and second pregnancies.
▪The research, published in Nature Communications, is the first to provide evidence that changes in the brain's cortex during pregnancy are associated with maternal depression.
Maternal brain research implications
▪The study followed 110 women over time, including those expecting their first child, their second child, and those who remained childless.
▪The findings may help improve the understanding and recognition of mental health problems in mothers, potentially improving care and treatment for postpartum depression.
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