Maternal neuroplasticity and mental health during the transition to motherhood

Abstract

The first 6 weeks postpartum are characterized by major changes in the bodies of cisgender women and an increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders such as postpartum depression (PPD). This Perspective addresses the debate over the onset of PPD in the first 6 weeks postpartum and its probable relationship to physiological adaptation processes. Fluctuations in hormone levels during pregnancy and childbirth trigger simultaneous changes in brain structure and function, which are particularly dynamic in the first 6 weeks postpartum. At the same time, rapid hormone withdrawal coincides with mood disorders such as ‘baby blues’ or PPD. Understanding the covariance between the temporal trajectories of hormonal adaptations, time-dependent neuroplasticity and the onset of mood disorders may shed valuable light on the highly sensitive time frame of the first 6 weeks postpartum, which, in addition to being a critical period of transition, may prove to be crucial for the onset of PPD. In this Perspective, the authors highlight the importance of the first 6 weeks after birth for postpartum neuroplasticity, and discuss multiple occurring processes that may contribute to the onset of postpartum depression.