All articles tagged with #postpartum
A small MRI study followed 25 new fathers across 24 weeks after birth, revealing rapid brain changes—early widespread gray matter reductions in multiple regions, later region-specific growth and altered connectivity—indicating paternal neuroplasticity, though generalizability is limited by the single-site, non-diverse sample and lack of pre-birth baseline.
A small study of 25 fathers scanned up to 24 weeks after birth finds rapid, dynamic brain restructuring: initial widespread gray-matter reductions followed by regional swelling, particularly in areas tied to attention, reward, and emotional processing, suggesting a 'parental brain network' tailored for caregiving. Changes resemble some maternal brain shifts but are preliminary, with unclear longevity and potential variation between first and later children.
Two days after giving birth, Tia Faye Clark found a large lump and was dismissed by seven doctors who told her it was a squishy post‑baby belly. After worsening pain sent her to hospital, she was diagnosed with Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Sarcoma, a rare, terminal cancer with no standard treatment and a dire five‑year survival rate; she’s undergoing chemotherapy while a GoFundMe supports her infant daughter Robyn and related health costs.
A Cottage Health–hosted Santa Barbara symposium with UCSB brain-health researchers highlighted under-researched areas of women’s health—postpartum recovery, chronic inflammatory conditions like endometriosis and bladder pain, and autonomic disorders such as POTS—calling for more funding, longer-term data, policy changes to include menopause in medical curricula, and thoughtful use of AI in health care to reduce bias while supporting clinical practice.
Vanessa Hudgens opened up in an Instagram Story about postpartum hair loss, describing it as a real but temporary effect of childbirth; experts note shedding often starts a few months after birth and typically resolves within about a year. The High School Musical alum, married to Cole Tucker, has two children—born in July 2024 and November 2025—and she’s learning to embrace her natural hair texture, often styling it in a slicked-back bun as part of mom life.
A BuzzFeed Community post gathers 23 women’s accounts of how their partners changed after becoming moms, revealing a spectrum from supportive, hands-on involvement to withdrawal or abuse; the stories highlight how the postpartum period can intensify relationship dynamics, with some women finding strength through shared parenting and others leaving abusive or unsupportive partners.
On her Not Gonna Lie podcast, Kylie Kelce gets candid about postpartum sex, noting that sex after vaginal birth isn’t always easy and healing varies by birth. The mom of four, whose youngest Finn is 11 months old, says they’re navigating intimacy with humor while Jason works as an ESPN analyst and they explain why four kids felt right for them.
A Swedish study of over 1 million fathers (2003–2021) finds that while pregnancy and early postpartum lower risk, diagnoses for depression and stress-related disorders rise by more than 30% toward the end of the first year after a child’s birth, then level off about a year later. The findings underscore the importance of screening and supporting fathers’ mental health, a need often overlooked compared with mothers.
Leen Lorig, then 25, suffered a postpartum stroke caused by a brain AVM, underwent brain surgery and weeks of ICU and rehabilitation, relearning speech and movement after aphasia; she later shared her journey on TikTok to raise awareness about strokes in young mothers, endured PTSD and divorce, and now continues to adapt to life as a resilient mother while advocating for others.
A BeMother study of 127 pregnant women and 32 nonpregnant controls found a ~5% reduction in grey matter during pregnancy, especially in regions linked to social cognition; greater shrinkage correlated with stronger self-reported bonding with the baby. Rising estrogen tracked with the brain changes. Grey matter partially recovered by six months postpartum but not fully, with more complete recovery linked to lower hostility toward the baby and better attachment, suggesting pregnancy-related brain remodeling may support adaptive maternal behavior and maternal mental health.
The Wisconsin Assembly voted 95-1 to join a federal program extending Medicaid coverage for low-income new mothers to 12 months after birth, up from 60 days, after Speaker Robin Vos dropped his opposition. The measure, already cleared by the Senate, now heads to Gov. Tony Evers, who is expected to sign. The policy carries an estimated state cost of about $9.4 million with federal funds covering roughly $14.1 million, and was supported by hospitals, medical groups, and advocates for mothers.
A Danish population-based cohort study of 363,904 mothers (2010–2018) finds ADHD diagnoses dip during pregnancy (about 72% lower than pre-pregnancy) but rise in the years after childbirth, with incidence 24% higher than pre-pregnancy two to five years postpartum (IRR 1.24) and peaking around 4–5 years postpartum. More than half of postpartum ADHD cases had prior psychiatric treatment, suggesting comorbidity or misdiagnosis, and highlighting the postpartum period as a key window for ADHD screening and support.
A new mom shares her exhaustion and frustration after having her first child, questioning why more people don't choose to have only one child due to the challenges of newborn care, lack of support, and personal preferences, with many others in similar situations expressing agreement and understanding.
Camille Seigle shares her raw postpartum experience, highlighting the emotional and physical challenges she faced, including feelings of disorientation, loneliness, and depression, and emphasizes the importance of authentic conversations about postpartum struggles to foster hope and resilience.
Elsie Hewitt shared a selfie showing her toned abs and an adult diaper two weeks after giving birth, clarifying she's not using it as a toilet but for postpartum protection, and highlighting her quick return to her pre-pregnancy shape after welcoming her daughter with Pete Davidson.