Pregnant women’s brains shed grey matter to prime them for motherhood, study suggests

Posted: 5th March 2026

Source: Pregnant women’s brains shed grey matter to prime them for motherhood, study suggests – BBC News

“Baby brain” is a cliche long-used to describe women becoming forgetful and feeling less capable during pregnancy.

But a recent study – the largest to date – indicates that pregnancy has a profound structural impact on brains and offers new clues into the neurological changes in mums‑to‑be.

It suggests that grey matter – the nerve-rich part of the brain involved in processing information, emotions and empathy – decreases by an average of nearly 5% during pregnancy.

Click here to read more: Pregnant women’s brains shed grey matter to prime them for motherhood, study suggests – BBC News

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