In her book, Matrescence, Lucy Jones discusses the idea that society — and women themselves — often feel that childbirth and caring for young children diminish their memory and cognitive capacity. Women often complain of not being able to remember anything, being scatterbrained, or feeling stupid.

But when looking at the research, Jones found the opposite!

In fact, it seems that having a baby concentrates the mind. The brain structure and the neurochemistry of the brain actually change in order to aid the mother to tune into her baby and her baby's needs. It may be that some of the old things the mother used to think about are less the focus of her attention after her baby arrives and she may feel less capable of concentrating on them — but this is far different from being "stupid."

In fact, Bridget Callahan, a researcher at UCLA, found evidence of enhanced........

© Psychology Today