For generations, “baby brain” has been a punchline—a casual explanation for forgetfulness, misplaced items, or that elusive word hanging just out of reach for new mothers. But what if there’s more truth to this phenomenon than we’ve ever acknowledged? Gratefully, with the aid of contemporary neuroscience and increasing scientific research, scientists are affirming what mothers have always intuited: "baby brain" isn't merely real, but is also a reflection of deep brain changes that start during pregnancy and extend after giving birth.

Science has long proven that the human brain is not fixed. By a process known as neuroplasticity, it reshapes itself constantly in response to great life events. For women, three such stages—puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause—signal particularly dramatic episodes of brain transformation. But among all these life changes, none appears to produce more far-reaching rewiring than motherhood.

A new National Institute of Mental Health study by neuroscientist Dr. Pilyoung Kim employed MRI scans to take a close look at the brains of recently delivered mothers within days of giving birth and again several months later. In the resulting study published in Behavioral Neuroscience, measurable increases in gray matter volume in various brain regions seldom observed in adult neurodevelopment were found, including:

The hypothalamus, which is responsible for motivation in mothers.

• The amygdala and substantia nigra, which control emotion and reward processing.
• The parietal lobe, which manages sensory integration.
• The prefrontal cortex, the center of reason, decision-making, and judgment.

What's even more intriguing is that these changes were more intense in mothers who exhibited more enthusiasm and affection for their infants. Emotional bonding, in other words, may not only feel good—it could literally make a mother's brain better.

Three Unexpected Effects of "Mom Brain" on New Moms

1. Enhanced Emotional Sensitivity and Social Awareness

Forgetfulness aside, perhaps the most underestiamted phenomenon affecting "baby brain" is its possible positive side. According to new research, the shifts new mothers go through may actually increase their ability for emotional sensitivity, empathy, and social responsiveness.

Hormones such as oxytocin and prolactin—also referred to as the "bonding hormones"—increase during and following pregnancy, encouraging maternal behaviors and increasing attunement with the infant. This ensures mothers are better attuned to detecting subtleties such as a change in facial expression or voice tone—vital for caregiving and early infant maintenance.

Effectively, new mothers can potentially forgo multitasking skills in the short run in exchange for cultivating laser-sharp attention to their baby's needs. What constitutes perceived brain fog can actually be an adjustment in priorities and focus toward caregiving activities essential to a newborn's survival and emotional growth.

2. Structural Brain Development Associated with Learning and Attachment

The idea that a woman's brain "shrinks" following childbirth is a discredited and misleading concept. Actually, according to the study's implication, the maternal brain experiences beneficial structural development, specifically in gray matter—a concentrated form of brain tissue associated with learning, memory, and decision-making.

This expansion is thought to be driven not only by hormones, but by the intense sensory and emotional input of being with an infant. Each diaper change, feeding, cuddle, and lullaby provides input that remodels and strengthens maternal brain circuits.

It's also interesting to mention that all study participants were lactating mothers and none had postpartum depression. Researchers now investigate whether these two mechanisms—hormonal release and emotional management—are linked with neuroplastic modifications in the mother's brain.

3. Memory Failures Could Be Transient but Significant

Yes, "mom brain" will bring about genuine memory loss—such as tossing dirty laundry in the trash or forgetting where you parked the car—but these are fleeting and part of a greater neurological transformation. New mothers have a redirection of information prioritization, such that certain short-term memory processes are relegated to a secondary position while other cognitive processes become enhanced.

Experts believe such lapses may be a result of the brain reordering resources in order to pay attention to emotional management, caregiving actions, and heightened watchfulness over the safety of the baby. Consider it as a functional trade-off and not a decline in intellect.

Can You Prevent "Baby Brain"?

Though you can't stop the changes in your mother's brain—after all, they're engineered to accommodate the new mom role—you can do some things to cope with some of the more annoying side effects:

• Blaming self for memory lapses only creates more stress and mental haze.
• Keep lists, write reminders, and use phone reminders to assist with day-to-day tasks.
• Talk to other moms, that way, the isolation decreases and emotional support increases.
• Lack of sleep is a major contributor that can magnify memory problems.
• Rather than bemoan what you forgot, mark the small milestones your baby achieves daily.

Scientists are now gearing up to examine adoptive mothers to see if they can differentiate changes triggered by hormones from those triggered by the mere stimulation of caregiving. The question that remains the ultimate one is: Does the brain alter behavior—or does behavior alter the brain?

What is increasingly apparent, however, is that motherhood is not an intellectual dumbing-down. It's a cognitive transformation—a restructuring of the brain's circuitry to accommodate one of life's most challenging and rewarding jobs.

Teen mental health has been a major conversation, especially when it comes to children and healthy development. Many of us can relate to feeling unheard, helpless and undiagnosed depressive episodes. Reports had shown a severe lack of support and proper care for teen mental health. As more and more people became aware of mental health and well-being, the lack of care and resources just for teens was also highlighted. These reports have helped build a solid foundation for children, giving them the support they require.

However, there is some better and hopeful news for teens. A new federal report suggests that fewer teenagers are experiencing major depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts.

Have Mental Health Issues Declined In Teens?

A recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that between 2021 and 2024, there was a more than 20% decrease in teenagers (ages 12 to 17) who reported having a major depressive episode or serious suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. This is a positive sign after years of increasing rates.

Mental health experts are encouraged by these findings, but they caution that it's still too early to draw a full conclusion without more data. However, the report provides a first look at how youth mental health has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How and Why Things Are Improving

Experts believe that the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic helped "open the eyes" of many adults, leading to a greater focus on youth mental health. As a result, more parents, teachers, and policymakers are more aware of mental health needs. This shift has led to an increase in programs designed to help young people, including those in schools and through telehealth services.

These programs often focus on prevention and early intervention. This means giving kids the tools to cope with difficult emotions and situations before they become a crisis. By doing this, adults are helping to normalize conversations about mental health, making it less of a taboo subject.

Challenges That Still Remain

Despite the positive trends, the report highlights that there is still a lot of work to be done.

High Rates of Depression

Over one-fifth of all teenagers still experienced at least one major depressive episode last year.

Low Treatment Rates

Only about 60% of these teens received mental health treatment. Many reported that they didn't seek help because they were afraid of what others might think, worried about privacy, or didn't believe treatment would work.

Adults Are Struggling, Too

The report found no notable improvement in mental health among adults. This is a concern, as adults who are struggling may not be able to model healthy coping skills for the children in their lives.

Vulnerable Communities

Certain groups, including children of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community, continue to face a higher risk of depression and suicide.

Experts emphasize the importance of communication between caregivers and children. Talking about mental health should be as normal as talking about other safety issues. They encourage parents to speak with their child's doctor or school counselor to learn about available resources.

Before stepping into parenthood, people often hear the familiar warnings: sleepless nights, endless responsibilities, and constant busyness. What few mention is another reality, it is the risk of injury.

Many parents have stories of physical strain, from tweaking a back while lifting a toddler to rushing across the room at night and tripping, or developing wrist pain from scrubbing bottles and pump parts. These injuries can start small but often persist for years, especially when parents overlook their own recovery while prioritizing their children’s needs.

Why New Parents Are Vulnerable

New mothers are particularly at risk due to the physical toll of pregnancy and the extra caregiving responsibilities, including breastfeeding. Coupled with lack of rest, these factors create the perfect storm for long-term issues. Experts stress that parents should seek early treatment for injuries and, ideally, prepare their bodies for parenthood with core-strengthening exercises before the baby arrives. Some compare parenting to a sport, one that demands training.

The lack of public awareness may be partly due to the absence of data. While medical billing codes exist for unusual injuries such as being struck by an animal, there is no formal category for being injured while caring for a child. As a result, the scale of the issue is difficult to measure.

From Workout to Wear and Tear

On paper, parenting could be considered a gradual fitness programme. A newborn’s weight increases steadily over the years, and play evolves from pushing a stroller to chasing a running child. But in reality, children often treat their parents as climbing frames, yanking arms or jumping on backs, leading to muscle strains and joint issues.

Physical therapists note that back, neck, shoulder, and wrist injuries are among the most common for parents. The rise in average age for first-time parents also plays a role. Older parents may face more aches and slower recovery times, similar to how an older athlete’s body responds differently to strain.

Conditions like diastasis recti, where abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy, can lead to lasting issues, including back pain, difficulty lifting, and even incontinence. Without targeted recovery, such conditions can limit a parent’s ability to care for both their child and themselves.

Changing Lifestyles, Increased Risk

Today’s parents spend significantly more time with their children compared with previous generations, reports The Washington Post. This, combined with demanding jobs, reduced community support, and a tendency to multitask while exhausted, increases the likelihood of accidents and injuries.

Stories from parents range from predictable strains to bizarre mishaps. One parent recalled dislocating a toe during a playful indoor game, which led to surgery, complications, and months of recovery. These accidents highlight how even harmless activities can result in long-term physical challenges.

Prevention and Recovery Tips

While injuries may be part of the parenting journey, there are ways to minimize the risk:

Strengthen your core: Engage in exercises like yoga, Pilates, swimming, or weight training to support the back, shoulders, and neck.

Maintain proper form: Learn safe lifting techniques for picking up children, car seats, and other heavy items.

Avoid unnecessary bending: Sit when strapping a child into a stroller instead of bending from the waist.

Travel light: Carry only essentials to reduce strain.

Slow down: Rushing often leads to missteps. Make multiple trips if needed.

Clear walkways: Removing toys and clutter reduces the chance of tripping, especially during night-time emergencies.

Adapt workouts: Short, frequent exercise sessions can replace long gym visits.

Stay active: Regular movement now will make it easier to keep up with children later.

Seek help early: Ignoring pain often worsens the injury, making recovery longer and more difficult.

There’s a reason your inner critic sounds suspiciously like your mum or dad. A new study, published in BMJ Open, has found that parents who ridicule, threaten, or humiliate their kids may be doing long-term damage not just bruising their egos but their entire mental wellbeing. According to the research, such harsh parenting increases the odds of poor adult mental health by a staggering 64 per cent. That throwaway “You’ll never amount to anything!” may echo louder in someone’s head than an actual slap.

Sticks, Stones… and Sharp Words

The participants were asked to assess their mental wellbeing over a two-week period. Scores placed them in either the high or low mental wellbeing category.

The results were eye-opening. “Our study reveals that degrading, humiliating and abusive language directed at children can have long-term mental health impacts at least as severe as those associated with physical abuse,” said Prof Bellis.

A Slap vs a Sharp Tongue

The numbers speak for themselves. What’s even more troubling is that while physical abuse among participants fell over time, verbal abuse has been on the rise. Those born before 1950 reported a 12 per cent prevalence of verbal abuse. That number jumped to 20 per cent among those born in or after 2000.

“Equally concerning is the trend observed over the study period where physical abuse declined but verbal abuse increased … potentially offsetting the mental health gains we might expect from reduced exposure to physical harm,” Bellis said.

In other words, just because fewer kids are getting slapped doesn’t mean they’re better off. Words, especially when used as weapons, can leave wounds that take far longer to heal.

Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

The study also found a general dip in mental wellbeing among younger generations. Those born in or after 2000 reported higher rates of poor mental health overall. So even with greater awareness about mental health, something’s going very wrong.

The researchers didn’t dig into the exact reasons for these changing abuse trends or the individual severity of abuse cases, but they made one thing clear: “Although this study does not examine the reasons for these trends, it is vital that we do not simply replace one form of childhood trauma with another,” said Bellis.

What Parents Need Besides Just ‘Don’t Do That’

Telling parents not to hit or yell at their kids isn’t enough. According to the study authors, what’s needed is practical, accessible guidance on how to build nurturing relationships. Because no parent wakes up thinking, “How can I mess my kid up today?” But when there is stress, generational trauma, or lack of support, well-meaning discipline can veer into damaging territory.

“That’s why we must go beyond telling parents what not to do and instead offer clear, practical support and guidance that allows them to raise their children through healthy, nurturing relationships,” Bellis said.

Mental health doesn’t just show up one day in adulthood. It’s shaped, layered, and often haunted by childhood experiences, especially the unkind words and undermining comments that seem small at the time but settle deep into the psyche. So if you're still dealing with anxiety or low self-worth in your thirties, it might not be ‘just you’. It could be the voice of harsh parenting, still living rent-free in your head.