062: Motherhood alters your brain; here’s what the newest science reveals
Plus: Redshirting Kindergarteners, Rumer Willis's toddler breastfeeding drama, Hoda Kotb leaves TODAY & an app for postpartum recovery
Welcome to Two Truths, a bestselling newsletter & media brand exploring the many truths of motherhood from journalists & maternal health advocates Cassie Shortsleeve of Dear Sunday Motherhood & Kelsey Haywood Lucas of Motherspeak. Two Truths is rooted in the healing & affirming principle that two (or more) things can be true. It’s a “best parenting Substack” per Motherly; also seen in The Skimm, Vox, The Bump, Popsugar & more.
News… & Other Things You Need to Know
1. New research reveals motherhood changes practically every part of your brain
For years now, we’ve known that “mom brain” need not be a term used to describe how mothers are forgetful: Pregnancy and postpartum change the brain in remarkable ways. Yet, the field of matrescence—a timeframe that marks the process of becoming a mother—remains largely understudied. Now, a new study in the journal Nature Neuroscience lays out some of the many profound ways the human brain changes from pregnancy through two years postpartum. The study, which was based on many fMRI scans of a 38-year-old first-time mother who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF), revealed that some brain regions shrink in size (yet improve in connectivity, potentially making the brain more efficient), some expand (allowing brain regions to communicate more effectively), and only a few brain regions remain untouched throughout matrescence. “This study is fundamental in laying the groundwork for future research by providing data that allows future research to explore in more detail and look at in relation to how we can support healthy brain changes in pregnancy (in the mother which will likely impact that developing fetus),” neuroscientist Jodi Pawluski, Ph.D. told CNN.
The research, out of The University of California, Santa Barbara, is part of the Maternal Brain Project initiative. “Experts in neuroscience, reproductive immunology, proteomics, and AI are joining forces to learn more than ever about the maternal brain. Together, we have an opportunity to tackle some of the most pressing and least understood problems in women’s health,” said one of the study’s researchers, Emily Jacobs, Ph.D.
2. Some parents are ‘redshirting’ boys for Kindergarten
Being older than your peers, particularly for school-aged children, has its benefits; it’s a widely popularized concept by Malcolm Gladwell’s 2008 book Outliers, which presented the case that kids older than their classmates generally perform better academically and socially. More recently, the phenomenon has been applied to Kindergarten, specifically Kindergarten boys. In 2022, an Atlantic piece entitled “Redshirt the Boys” made the case for starting boys—who generally mature at a slower pace than girls—a year later than their female counterparts. This back-to-school season, the topic has been the focus of multiple articles explaining the concept of redshirting, exploring the question of redshirting boys in more detail, and explaining who is redshirting and why.
Stephanie McSweeny, an academic dean at an elementary school in New England, says that ‘redshirting’ for Kindergarten can be helpful, in theory, for some boys. “It is a lot to go into Kindergarten where they’re being asked to follow directions, be still, and sit quietly for many hours of the day with just recess for 25 to 30 minutes when they’re used to having so much more free play in preschool or at home.” But, she says, it’s a complicated topic. (Did you know not every state even requires Kindergarten?) All sorts of factors—including individual differences in children, socioeconomic status, where you live, the costs of childcare or preschool, your decisions around schooling, and more—all impact things.
No matter your decision on how and when you educate your children, we’ll point you to the message below, which Cassie recently received from an educator.
«partner content»
3. This app is prioritizing postpartum care
Mothers matter—but too often, as you may have heard in one popular analogy, a new baby is treated like “the candy” whereas the new mother becomes the “wrapper”; and once the candy is out of the wrapper, the wrapper is cast aside. But it doesn’t have to be this way—and Natural Cycles° is here to help change it. The app’s NC° Postpartum mode helps guide mothers physically and mentally as they recover from childbirth: think mental health check-ins; emotional support; links to trusted resources like Postpartum Support International; education about pertinent topics post-birth like birth control, feeding options, and the return of fertility; and special trackers to keep tabs on postpartum bleeding, sleep, pain, changes to skin and hair, and other symptoms that can be shared with healthcare providers. Natural Cycles° is the first and only FDA-cleared birth control app; it can help you prevent pregnancy, conceive, track a pregnancy, recover from childbirth or loss, and more.1
» Click here to learn more about how Natural Cycles° can work for you—and use the code twotruths to get a free thermometer and 15% off your annual subscription.
4. A scary-sounding government report says fluoride at twice the recommended limit is linked to lower IQ in kids—but here’s what you need to know
The report, from the National Toxicology Program, is a review of studies conducted outside of the U.S. It “marks the first time a federal agency has determined—‘with moderate confidence’—that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids,” per The AP.
Essentially, the report found that drinking water with more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is linked with lower IQs in kids. But remember: “Since 2015, federal health officials have recommended a fluoridation level of 0.7 milligrams per liter of water, and for five decades before the recommended upper range was 1.2,” The AP reports. “The report said that about 0.6% of the U.S. population—about 1.9 million people—are on water systems with naturally occurring fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams or higher.” ‘Naturally occurring fluoride levels’ is a key phrase here, as this report does not speak to community fluoridation.
To this extent, The American Dental Association (ADA) has taken major issue with the report, per a statement that cites flawed previous drafts of the report and limitations to the research. “The report does not provide any evidence to inform the practice of community water fluoridation,” Scott Tomar, D.M.D., professor and associate dean at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, said.
If you want to know more about this report and what it could mean for you, we liked this deep dive in Stat News, which concludes by stating, “For most people, this report means very little.”
If you’re concerned about the report, discuss it with your pediatrician, dentist, or healthcare provider.
5. The first study looking at the link between the Dobbs decision and the use of oral and emergency contraceptives in the U.S. finds restrictive abortion bans impact access to birth control, too
With the election T-30 days away, reproductive health is front and center for many Americans, and a study published in JAMA Network Open reminds of the many impacts of restrictive abortion laws, namely access to birth control. The study found that in the year after Roe v. Wade fell in states with the most restrictive abortion bans (a la Mississippi or Texas), there was a 4% drop in prescription fills of the Pill and a 65% dip in fills for emergency contraceptive (a.k.a. Plan B).
Remember: Clinics that provide abortions also often prescribe birth control—and when abortion clinics close, all of their services disappear, creating “contraception deserts” around the country, where it’s harder to access contraceptive care. Voting for reproductive health means voting for candidates who platform these topics, support women’s rights, and empower physicians and families to make the decisions that are right for their bodies.
» Chamber of Mothers, a non-partisan non-profit, is urging everyone (and their mother) to vote like a mother this November. Click here to learn more about what that means—and how you can get involved.
6. Comments on Rumer Willis’s recent Instagram photo confirm that people have a lot of thoughts when it comes to breastfeeding toddlers — but here’s what you might not be prepared for
What happened with Rumer? What does ‘extended’ breastfeeding even mean—and is that term helpful or harmful? In a new piece for Motherly, Kelsey discusses all this—and shares three unexpected upsides of breastfeeding a toddler that are far less frequently discussed. (Spoiler: It’s comedic gold.)
7. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Stay tuned for an issue devoted exclusively to this important topic. In the meantime, here are a few great resources and support groups from our partner, Postpartum Support International, to save for yourself or share with a friend.
And ICYMI, more headlines of the month…
Hoda Kotb steps down from TODAY, says daughters and her mother ‘need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie’ via Today
‘Health plan floated by JD Vance could weaken protections for pregnant people’ via The 19th
‘Ballistic armor companies are marketing protective products designed for the military to parents and schools. Some people see the items as unsettling but prudent; others find them infuriating’ via The New York Times
‘She Deserved the Purse: See The Viral TikTok Inspiring Acts of Kindness for New Moms’ via The Everymom
Country singer Kelsea Ballerini’s new song is all about how two things can be true via YouTube
Your ultimate guide to paid leave with insights from our friend and Chamber of Mothers co-founder Daphne Delvaux (@themamattorney) via What to Expect
Words That Resonate
Do you have a wild one? This post was inspired by a comforting comment that Cassie made to Kelsey about the upside of the exhaustion and exasperation that comes with a high-energy kid.
This is my son, I love this and am trying to remain present and relish the adventure! —grounded_and_grateful
This made me cry. This is my son, and it is a joy to be a mother of a wild one but it is also so hard. Thank you for these words. —becbladkettle
It’s difficult but...it's the only love that’s unconditional. ❤️ —thedivinetussle
And We’ll Leave You With This…
✨ Thanks for reading! To support this work (done between naps, after bedtimes, and before school pickups), please consider upgrading to a paid subscription (it’s just $5/month or $50/year to get the premium experience — every single issue, exclusive content and giveaways, access to the full archive of content, and more). You can also hit the heart button to tell us you enjoyed this issue, share it on social media (don’t forget to tag @twotruthsmotherhood on IG), or forward it to a friend. We appreciate you. —Cassie and Kelsey
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Resources and Support For Maternal Mental Health
Emergency assistance is available 24/7 at 911
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA or 1-833-852-6262) provides access to a trained counselor 24/7 and is available in Spanish and English
Postpartum Support International provides educational resources on PMADs, free support groups, webinars, advanced trainings for providers, and more
Postpartum Support International’s provider directory includes a list of thousands of trained professionals organized by state
The Motherhood Center offers counseling, support groups, and webinars
The Postpartum Stress Center offers educational resources, counseling, a referral list of trained providers, and advanced training for providers
SUPPORT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WITH POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL (PSI). PSI is a global champion for perinatal mental health that connects individuals and families to the resources and support needed to give them the strongest and healthiest start possible. Visit postpartum.net for information on perinatal mental health disorders, access to 30+ free, online support groups, an online provider directory, the PSI HelpLine, local support coordinators, a perinatal mental health discussion tool, specialized support resources, and more. Call the PSI HelpLine toll-free at 1-800-944-4773 for basic information, support, and resources. Support via text message is also available at 800-944-4773 (English) and 971-203-2773 (Español). Remember: You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will be well.
Natural Cycles is for ages 18+ and does not protect against STIs.