How the brain changes of motherhood help human survival | Dr. Lara Harvey | TEDxNashvilleWomen

Summary

In this insightful talk, a doctor and new mother challenges the negative perceptions surrounding postpartum brain changes, like 'mom brain' and intrusive thoughts. Drawing on personal experience and evolutionary medicine, she suggests these changes may be protective adaptations, honed over time for the survival of mothers and their babies. The speaker advocates for reframing these experiences, proposing that with proper education and community support, the distress can be reduced. She calls for increased research into women’s health and a shift in societal views, urging us to respect and understand the complexities of motherhood.

Takeaways

• 😀 Women commonly experience 'mom brain' or 'baby brain', which often has a negative connotation, though it can be reframed as a positive adaptive feature.
• 😀 Postpartum mood disorders are prevalent, with 50-85% of women experiencing 'baby blues', which are linked to hormone drops after childbirth.
• 😀 Postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD affect about 10-15% of women, while less than 1% develop postpartum psychosis, a much rarer but serious condition.
• 😀 As a medical student, the speaker learned about postpartum conditions from a clinical perspective, but only after having her own children did she fully understand these experiences.
• 😀 The speaker experienced intrusive thoughts or 'daymares' as a new mother, which are surprisingly common, with nearly 100% of new mothers experiencing similar intrusive images.
• 😀 The brain's 'lizard brain' (brain stem) is thought to play a role in these intrusive thoughts, acting as an ancient survival mechanism to keep mothers alert to potential dangers.
• 😀 Research suggests that evolutionary medicine might help explain human parenting behaviors, including why women experience intense protective instincts postpartum.
• 😀 Maternal experience can increase infant survival, as seen in primates like macaques, where first-time mothers have a significantly higher risk of infant loss.
• 😀 Evolutionary theories suggest that human infants are born helpless, and this extreme vulnerability led to the development of complex brains and societal structures to ensure their survival.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of reframing postpartum experiences, like intrusive thoughts and 'mom brain', as evolutionary adaptations rather than pathologies.
• 😀 To better support new mothers, the speaker advocates for education on postpartum brain changes, community support, and more research on women's health.

Q & A

What is 'mom brain' and how is it commonly perceived?

'Mom brain' refers to the cognitive changes and challenges women may experience after giving birth. It is often referred to negatively, with some considering it a sign of forgetfulness or mental fog. The script highlights that this term is typically used in a negative context, but the speaker suggests reframing it as an evolutionary advantage.

What are the key differences between baby blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis?

Baby blues are common and involve mood swings, irritability, and poor sleep for a few weeks after birth, due to a hormonal drop. Postpartum depression affects around 10-15% of women and involves prolonged sadness, anxiety, or mood disturbances. Postpartum psychosis, which is very rare (less than 1%), can lead to severe symptoms like delusions or thoughts of harming oneself or the baby.

Why did the speaker feel anxious when pushing the stroller with her babies?

The speaker experienced an intrusive and horrifying thought of a car jumping the curb and hitting the stroller with her babies. This sudden, irrational thought was a form of postpartum anxiety known as 'daymares,' which is common but often unrecognized.

How did the speaker cope with the intrusive thoughts she experienced?

The speaker reframed the intrusive thoughts as warnings from her 'lizard brain,' referring to an ancient part of the brain. She thanked her 'lizard mom' for the warning and used it as a reminder to stay cautious. This helped her view the experience as protective rather than distressing.

What role does the reticular activating system (RAS) play in motherhood?

The reticular activating system (RAS) in the brainstem plays a key role in directing attention. In mothers, it is highly attuned to sounds related to their babies, such as cries, and helps them respond quickly, even in a room full of sleeping babies.

How does evolutionary medicine explain the development of postpartum anxiety or depression?

Evolutionary medicine suggests that these conditions might have developed as adaptive responses to increase the survival of offspring. For example, anxiety about potential dangers could have helped ancient mothers protect their children more effectively.

What does the speaker suggest about the relationship between 'lizard mom' and human survival?

The speaker suggests that 'lizard mom' represents the ancient, protective part of the brain that helps mothers recognize potential dangers to their children. This ability to sense threats may have been crucial for the survival of the human species.

Why is postpartum depression described as a 'call to the community'?

The speaker refers to postpartum depression as a way for the mother to signal a need for support from her community. This hypothesis suggests that depression may be an evolutionary mechanism to encourage social bonding and support during a vulnerable period.

How does the concept of 'the grandmother effect' relate to human evolution?

The 'grandmother effect' refers to the idea that having grandmothers around can increase the survival rate of grandchildren, as they provide additional caregiving and support. This is unique to humans and is thought to contribute to the extended human lifespan and social structures.

What is the main takeaway from the speaker's discussion about mom brain and postpartum changes?

The main takeaway is that the cognitive and emotional changes women experience during and after pregnancy should not be viewed negatively. Instead, they may be evolutionary adaptations that helped ensure the survival of offspring. The speaker advocates for reframing these changes as strengths rather than pathologies.