Pregnancy Changes Mothers’ Brains. These Recent Discoveries Are Showing Us How “Baby brain” isn’t the deficit it’s stereotyped to be, research suggests. Neural adaptations during pregnancy can prime soon-to-be-moms to become more attuned to their children and enhance social cognition During and after pregnancy, hormones drive profound changes in the brain’s structure and function. AleksandarNakic via Getty Images I’d looked in every drawer, through every basket and on every countertop. I’d emptied out the contents of my purse and searched my coat pockets. Nothing. My husband’s keys had disappeared. It wasn’t until I walked outside 30 minutes later that I found them, dangling from the lock on our front door. That sort of absent-mindedness was unusual for me—and incredibly frustrating. Since becoming pregnant with my first child in early 2024, my mind has felt different. I commonly lose my train of thought and grasp for words on the tip of my tongue. Deep, critical thinking can be exhausting.…