Pregnancy and the Brain

<p>A study published in Nature Communications, published Feb 19, 2026, found that “pregnancy physically alters a woman’s brain, with a second pregnancy bringing even more profound effects.” The researchers “performed brain scans on 110 women. Some were first-time mothers, others second-time moms, and some nulliparous women. Results showed that during a first pregnancy, the greatest changes occur in the structure and activity of the ‘default mode network’ – the brain system responsible for self-reflection and mind wandering. Are these changes …