Did you notice your brain starting to turn to mush when you found out you were pregnant? Sometimes you go out to run an errand and then forget what you were going to do, only to then forget where you parked your car. Baby brain is a very real phenomenon—your brain can shrink up to 7% when you have a baby. A major factor that plays a role in baby brain is the flood of oxytocin, the hormone associated with bonding.

There is good news about the changes going on in your brain during this time. Mother rats and rats who have never given birth were subjected to cognitive challenges such as a maze, and the mother rats performed better. The changes in the brain can result in outcomes such as increased bravery, lower blood pressure, and a more efficient response to stress.

Read the full article here: Why having a baby is like upgrading the operating system for your brain