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Discover the Wonder: Top 8 Surprising and Heartwarming Fun Facts About Moms

illustration of moms
Dive into the world of motherhood with these delightful tidbits that will make you appreciate the magic of moms even more!

1. Supermom Senses

Moms don't just have eyes in the back of their heads, they've got supersonic senses too: Motherhood actually triggers brain adaptations that enhance a mom's sense of hearing and smell, enabling her to identify distress calls from her offspring with astounding proficiency and further strengthening the bond between mother and child.
Source => dailymail.co.uk

2. Blood-brain Barrier Bouncer

Lo and behold, the marvelous fortress guarding the royal fetal brain from invaders! The noble blood-brain barrier stands as a valiant protector for our future progeny, bending the knee only to the placenta's divine authority: Starting as early as 8 weeks' gestation, this mighty barrier shields the developing brain from harmful substances, drugs, and environmental disturbances, ensuring a healthy growth and preventing trespassers from crashing the cerebral party.
Source => pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3. Baby-brain Phenomenon

Hey moms, tired of being called "baby-brained"? Well, science says you've earned that title – and here's why: During pregnancy, a mother's brain size actually decreases, but don't worry! It bounces back up to its pre-pregnancy size within six months after birth, with ventricular size following suit. Just think of it as a temporary brain vacation, especially for those with preeclampsia, as their brains were found to be even smaller than their fellow mommas!
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

4. Oxytocin Superpowers

Hey moms, are you secretly part of the X-Men with superior brain powers? Because science seems to think so! Ready for a mind-bending revelation: Studies have found that oxytocin, the hormone essential for childbirth and nursing, not only makes mother mice superheroes in the lactation department but also boosts their hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, ensuring their offspring's survival while making them veritable brainiacs in the rodent world.
Source => researchgate.net

Heartbeat Connection

5. Heartbeat Connection

It seems we've found the true meaning behind the phrase "mother's little heartbeat": Scottish and German scientists uncovered that babies in utero actually sense and adjust their heart rate based on their mother's heartbeat! This cardiovascular connection may alert caregivers to anomalies or developmental issues. Furthermore, during face-to-face interaction, the heart rates of moms and their 3-month-old babies synchronize almost instantaneously, offering a soothing effect for both. We've yet to see if dads or other caretakers possess this heart-to-heart superpower.
Source => smallacorn.co.uk

6. Moms' Cerebral Symphony

Move over, Mozart effect: It turns out moms don't need to be skilled musicians to rock their babies' brains – they're already stars in their newborns' cerebral symphony! The serious reveal: Studies show that exposing preterm infants to recordings of their mother's voice and heartbeat can actually help shape their brain development – specifically in the auditory cortex – and improve their future language and hearing abilities. So, moms can take a bow as their own voices and heartbeats shape their newborn's mental masterpieces.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

7. Pregnancy Sleep Struggles

If Mama Bear's bags aren't just from baby bear and Papa Bear's late-night antics: it's because nearly all women experience increased nighttime awakenings during pregnancy due to physical discomfort, psychological adjustments, and hormone changes which can impact sleep quality and result in excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
Source => verywellhealth.com

8. Longevity Legacy

Who runs the world? Moms! Feast your eyes on this prime example of maternal marvel: A study on Ashkenazi Jews discovered that mothers of centenarians had significantly longer lifespans compared to mothers of non-centenarians, with the odds of being a centenarian increasing by 21% for females and 30% for males for every additional 10 years of life achieved by their mom. Even more fascinating, male centenarians inherit longevity from both maternal and paternal lineages, while female centenarians receive it only from their maternal lineage.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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