Local doctor weighs in on ‘pregnancy brain’

A local doctor spoke with ABC-7 about a term expectant mothers may be familiar with, pregnancy brain.

Dr. Daniel Aronson, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Del Sol Medical Center, said he agrees with a recently released article about how pregnancy affects a woman’s brain.

“There’s a very interesting study that was just released out of Colorado, showing once again that there’s indeed a different wiring that takes place in the brain,” Dr. Aronson said.

A study from the department of psychology at the University of Denver found that the changes start during pregnancy and continue through post-partum.

A woman’s brain rewires during these periods, becoming extra sensitive to the baby’s movement, being able to tolerate excessive crying and even pushing through extreme exhaustion.

The study found a core neurocircuitry in the brain that is designed to support parenting and caregiving of your offspring.

Dr. Aronson said senses are also heightened, along with anxiety. He believes this helps the nesting phase for women who are expecting.

Sleeping patterns are also affected during pregnancy. Dr. Aronson said women don’t achieve deep sleep overnight.

“We feel this has an advantage in preparing a mother-to-be. When the baby is crying even at just two hours of sleep, they can alert and wake up to attend the baby’s needs,” Aronson said.

You can read the full article, here.