Motherhood Affects the Social and Emotional State of a Woman

Motherhood Affects the Social and Emotional State of a Woman

April M. Thomas

Human Growth and Development COUN 502

Liberty University

Dr. Faith Teel

August 4, 2013

Abstract

Research shows that when women are pregnant or even after childbirth they experience physical and mental changes. These changes are important to the process of motherhood and caring for the infant. He brain produces an increase of neurons and the production of oxytocin in response to the pregnancy. The extra neuron and the oxytocin play a major role in the bonding process with mother and infant as well as subjects her to being at higher risk for postpartum depression. Her brain has to begin to change and produce more neutron to now only think and process for the mom but also for the unborn child. The changes effect the physical and mental in either a negative or positive way. The soon to be mother’s body and mind start to adjust to the new life that is growing inside her body. The security of the mother mentally as well as if she develops postpartum depression can affect the way she responds to her infant child.  Once the infant is born the mental and physical of the woman now has to respond to the stimuli of the infant.

Keywords: motherhood, pregnancy, women, brain, bonding, postpartum depression, depression

Motherhood Affects the Social and Emotional State of a Woman

One of the most exciting times in a woman’s life is when she becomes a mother. She is entering into a new stage in her life and experiencing new things. During pregnancy the woman’s body goes through quite a few of the changes may not always be permanent.  A variety of the changes are desired and add desire lifestyle changes. As well these changes often produce changes that are not very pleasing to the eye or even beneficial for the woman after she gives birth. However, there are still other changes that occur in a woman’s body after she gives birth.  The changes affect here social and emotional life in numerous ways. Social the changes that take place affect the way she bonds and responds with her new infant. The emotional changes that she endures make her vulnerable to developing postpartum depression.

As a mother begins to bond with her baby there are changes that take place in her brain. In recent MRI (fMRI) brain studies on certain parts of the brain were activated in the mother when presented with infant-related stimuli (Kim 2010).  The parts of the brain that were activated were the substantia nigra, amygdala, thalamus, parietal cortex, and prefrontal cortex.   The increasing of the activity of these areas of the brain early in the postpartum period can be followed by structural changes in the brain (Kim 2010). After the mother gives birth and starts to make a connection with her newborn baby structural changes begin to take place in her brain.