Pregnancy Brain. Baby Brain. Mommy Brain. We’ve all whispered these terms in pregnancy, as an excuse for the ridiculous things we’ve done. You know, like the time you locked your keys in the car, left your purse at the mall, missed your hair appointments, and maybe even forgot a birthday or two? Funny thing, all of those moments of oblivion can’t really be blamed on baby, apparently even less so if you’re carrying a boy. In actuality, pregnancy gives your brain a major boost, and less room for excuses than ever. Turns out, that the gestation period is such a great time of evolution, and you’re guaranteed to come out of it SMARTER than before.

You may not have heard it yet, that new research shows that giving birth to boys has quite a few substantial benefits. Think better memory, improved impulse control, accelerated creativity and enhanced multi tasking! And we are just getting started; your bouncing baby boy may also leave you with better immunity and reduced risk for serious illnesses like Alzheimer´s disease and cancer. It sounds like the details of a sci-fi movie, only it’s much better than make believe. It’s actually real- life stuff backed by scientific evidence. Don´t be skeptical if it sounds too good to be true. Having a baby boy provides you with gifts far beyond your bundle of joy. Keep reading to get a gist of it, of just how powerful the baby to brain connections might be! You won’t be disappointed!

15 Dumbstruck

Some findings show that presence of the Y chromosome has been found in the brains of women. The DNA is left behind by a boy that you have been pregnant with. New research finds that it remains long after the child bearing years. Some theories even suggests that the fusion between mother and son is permanent. Male DNA has shown up in the brains of deceased women up to the age of 94. It gives new perspective on the thought that our lives are changed forever, after we bear children. Until recently there was no concept of just how far reaching the effects of pregnancy really could be.

Ironically, while most of us complain about pregnancy brain aka the “mommy dummies”, there is substantial proof that the memory lapses and complaints of pregnancy fog, are actually occurring because the brain is busy making connections elsewhere. Research has shown that both dendrites and glial cells double during pregnancy. These scientific names are just fancy terms for the way neurons communicate in your brain. The changes that happen during pregnancy are permanent and they allow a mother to experience a boost in motivation and empathy, increased memory retention, a decrease in fearfulness, and improvement in her abilities to prioritize and multitask! So, an increase in intellect during pregnancy is no joke, simply carrying a child does make you smarter, and better able to be a Mom, too!

14 Reverse Psychology

New findings have revealed that a lot more is going on in utero than was previously believed. It’s pretty hard to imagine that we could be any more wowed by the awesomeness of pregnancy than by the information we already have. As mothers, we are not only the breeding grounds but we are the incubators and developers of a new life!! It has been long known that both Mom and Dad are equally responsible for the DNA composition of their baby, but the new information on the science front, is that the baby is also contributing to Mama’s DNA, too. Apparently, the baby supplies cells to the mother through the placenta, much in the same way that she does for him. These cells most certainly carry DNA, and in some cases the male DNA stays behind, embedding itself into the mother’s tissues and vital organs, most importantly noted in the brain. This type of cellular invasion and fusion, results in a theoretical Hybrid Mom. So what can a Mom gain from these fetal cells?

13 Everlasting Life

There is a phenomenon that exists in direct relation to motherhood. It is a well known statistic that women who have kids live longer than others, and also that women generally live longer than men. Scientists are beginning to speculate that this information could be key, potentially giving rise to a hybrid-like motherhood DNA. Boys are getting the credit on this one, as scientists now believe that Y chromosome mixing with the XX DNA of a female could be resulting in longevity. Think of it like this, that women engrained with the Y chromosome are better able to roll with the punches. The cells are evolving to help her cope better with psychological and physical inconsistencies.

She’s healthier, stronger, and smarter; three surefire traits in the ideals of “survival of the fittest”. This means that it may be true, that women who live the longest, might be carriers of the bonus Y chromosome that the other women weren’t. When compared to men, women also often live longer lives than their opposite sex peers. But, science is saying that there may be more to it than luck of the draw. As it is not true in all cases, some women do perish sooner than males in their peer group. While, other women who do outlive the males, are also just as likely to far outlive other females in their age bracket. Theory has it, that perhaps these women with the greatest longevity are those who were blessed with the mysterious Y chromosome.

12 Memory Mayhem

So, we’ve all heard this before, that with kids, Moms develop another set of eyes in the back of their head! We might also have an uncanny ability to recall where lost things are or to remember the names of every single kid on the roster for the baseball team. Well, it turns out that Moms aren’t just freaks of nature by association; they may well be that way simply because they have boys!!

In recent years scientists have been studying the findings from a study conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center based out of Alberta. According to the research, it is now understood that mothers of boys are much less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease later in life. In addition, the more children and the more boys a women carries in her life, the lower her chances are of being affected by the disease. So the next time someone accuses you of being the overzealous Mom, for remembering things that no human should know…feel free to kindly point your finger at your little mister, and blame his male DNA.

11 You Gain Super Hero Traits

If you’re a Mom, you’re kids might already believe that you’re a super hero, and now you can tell them that they just might be right. But, we’re not talking about the Hollywood variety of the super hero, so don’t too excited yet. As much of a blessing your baby boy is, nine months in the womb is not going to grant you the ability fly through the sky with a flapping cape in your wake. But, you can thank him for some pretty awesome powers! If he’s the type of boy who leaves behind his Y chromosome to share with you, you might inherit a wide array of health benefits! Scientists speculate that when the male DNA embeds in the Mother’s cells, she gains certain attributes: like being able to heal from wounds more quickly, having a stronger immune system and even reduced risk for certain cancers. Now those are some intense powers to gain from pregnancy! Not all boys leave remnants of their DNA embedded in their mother, and scientists don’t yet know why some do and others don’t, but as many as 60% of Moms may be walking around with the Y chromosome that their son left them with.

10 Clusters Against Cancer

We have learned that birthing baby boys can be a determining factor in preventing cancer. Yes, you read that right; we just said cancer with a capitol C. It turns out that the presence of the Y chromosome in women, can predict a dramatically reduced chance of being plagued by Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer, as well as others. When fetal cells achieve feats like this, scientists can’t help but wonder if we are simply seeing the shape-shifting nature of evolution. Similar findings have been long found in mammals outside of the human species. Biologists refer to the phenomenon as microchimera, when cells from two different entities can influence each other. This is the first time that we have known of its existence in humans, and scientists say that for us to be able to fully understand the implications; we first have to understand why it is happening to begin with. Why are some women more susceptible to harboring the Y chromosome than others, and in turn, why is it that some boys are leaving their DNA behind when others are not? Solving the mystery could go a long way in understating how to prevent cancer on a cellular level.

9 The Invisible Man

An interesting tidbit that falls into this wealth of fascinating information is the irony of male DNA showing up in women who never gave birth to boys. Speculations from researchers say that male DNA may show up in other less obvious ways. Male DNA likely embeds itself from the moment of conception. So, if you’ve had a miscarriage, abortion, or unknown pregnancy the cells could already be transferred into your DNA. Another idea is that women with older genetic brothers could have picked up parts of his DNA that he left behind in their mother. And yet another possibility is the presence of male DNA in his twin of the opposite sex, suggesting that the male chromosome could be passed between siblings in utero. This means that the men and boys in your life may have more influence on you than once believed. I bet you never considered that you could be hosting biological parts of your son, your brother, and possibly even of your grandfather.

8 A Beautiful Mind

Some women claim an uncanny link between pregnancy and a boost in creativity. You might soon relate if you’ve never considered it before. A new passion for art, a rekindled love for writing, even a spurt with a home décor obsession…maybe you aren’t the only one who deserves credit for it. Some studies coincide with this, and say that male DNA just might cause you to think a little differently. However, some scientists argue that the effect is the same regardless of the sex of your baby. Boys can’t get all the credit, baby girls can make a mother smarter, too. This study isn’t the only one that touts these claims. Some neuroscientists are revealing astounding information about brain health in pregnancy. According to lab research, pregnant rats have more energy, are more curious, solve mazes more quickly, and retain detailed information for longer periods of time. In addition, an increase in vision and sense of smell were noted as well.

7 Battle Of The Sexes 

6

Before we start a controversy that boys are better than girls, consider the infancy of this research and how preliminary the results might be. The effects of girls on their mother during pregnancy simply have not been studied. Initially this research was conducted this way because a boy’s DNA is much easier to identify than a girl’s DNA when compared against the mother. Selecting a Y chromosome in a sea of XXs is a much less complex feat than distinguishing between the female DNA, of which strands belong to mother and which were left by the daughter. Indeed it is possible that studies of female children will reveal the same results, or perhaps if girls leave behind DNA as well, theirs will have a unique set of benefits. No one knows for sure, all we can do is hope for more exciting revelations in the future.

5 Matters Of The Heart

It is not just the brain that is showing signs of fetal DNA retention. What is more evident, rather, is that the cells are circulating through the Mother’s body influencing a variety of internal responses. Scientific research is now pointing fingers at the offspring, for saving a mother’s life when it comes to cardiac injury and malfunction. Apparently, recent finding shave revealed the presence of fetal cells in a figurative hug around the injury sites. When noted in mice studies, some of these super powered cells even started beating spontaneously. This information leads to some interesting theory, could the DNA from a male child left behind through pregnancy, actually be responsible for reversing or correcting cardiac problems in his mother? We can’t say for sure, but the prospects are both startling and fascinating to say the least! Either way, a mother will always say that her child remains in her heart forever. Now we are learning that this might true both figuratively and literally!

4 The Better To See You With

When it comes to the five senses, Mommies may experience the greatest boost. Some of you may have heard that you shouldn’t get a new prescription lens during pregnancy, because your eyes may be undergoing changes. What you may not have expected to hear is that your vision may very well experience an improvement during your childbearing months. It doesn’t mean that you’ll wake up one day with morning sickness and perfect eyesight, but that you may see with better clarity due to improved sensitivity and interpretation in the regions of the brain that control your eye sight. In laymen’s terms, you’ll better be able to identify the world and hidden dangers for your babe. You’ll likely notice things that weren’t important before, but that are now vital information in relation to the survival of your child. In fact, it’s not just your vision that advances for the benefit of your baby, your sense of smell does, too. Theory has it that we gain this strength in order to prevent ourselves from ingesting items that are unsafe or potentially harmful to our unborn baby. In essence, our food aversions during the gestation period may have more relevance that we give it credit for.

3 Rose Colored Glasses

Did you know that once you become a Mom, your brain is wired differently that the brains of non-Moms? Scientific studies have compared the brain scans of women with children, and those without and measured the response of all participants to different emotional states of a baby. According to the research, the effects of non-parents showed the greatest brain activity was in response to a child’s laughter. As for Mom, their cognitive brain function went off the charts when they heard sounds of babying crying or in distress. These brain changes are believed to be responsible for creating empathy in a new Mother. An especially interesting part of the study revealed that Moms react to the unpleasant sounds of a baby crying or whining, with the part of the brain responsible for pleasurable experiences. Something in the brain changes, that allows Mothers to interpret these otherwise negative interactions, as part of the joys of motherhood. As weird as it sounds, Mommies might have as much pleasure in soothing their babies cries as they do from sex and good food.

2 Rest Assured 

If find yourself reading this article and wondering where you have misplaced all of these benefits of pregnancy, you are not alone. But, rest assured that you have not been skipped over in receiving these blessing, you are likely just sleep deprived. Moms are typically the primary caregiver, and in turn, are expected to sacrifice over 700 hours of sleep in the first year of baby´s life. Now that does sound exhausting! No wonder you can’t think! Time and time again research has shown just how detrimental the lack of Z’s can be. The first part of your brain affected by insufficient sleep, is the frontal cortex, which happens to be responsible for keeping you alert, innovate, and flexible. So all that you’ve gained from baby, you’re likely missing from all those extra hours away with baby. Rest assured, that once you get some rest, all the hidden perks of motherhood will give your brain a boost, too.

1 The Sky Is The Limit

Becoming a mother has proven to be endless in benefits, reaching far beyond the initial bliss of cuddling your new baby. Carrying your infant in utero not only makes you a better, smarter you, but it also makes you a much better Mom. Evolution is an amazing concept, and it is certainly stunning to learn how much a Mother’s brain can change simply by becoming a Mother. And the new science is pretty intriguing too; as we have just scratched the surface of the many benefits that baby can give to you. It’s pretty incredible to think that your child could be healing you from the inside out, even while he or she is busy developing inside. We never knew that our offspring could be thanking us for life, in so many different ways. The possibilities are endless, and so are the benefits of what it means to become a parent.

Sources: ScienceMag.org, Smithsonianmag.com, TheAtlantic.com, LiveScience.com, ScienceNews.org, NewScientist.com, Pregnancy-info.net, BabyCenter.com