Hey mama, I see you there, scrolling past yet another article that promises to BLOW. YOUR. MIND. or reveal the SHOCKING TRUTH . . . about kittens. Or pandas. Or the mold that grows on paleo bread if you leave it out too long.
Today I’ve got something far better to share with you. Are you ready? It’s . . . . YOU.
Yep, seriously. Sure, it’s easy to think that motherhood is mostly about asking tiny people why they’ve taken their pants off in the middle of the day, but there’s so much beauty, too . . . and it’s a good idea to take a moment and savor it as often as possible.
With that in mind, here are five facts about motherhood to remind you just how amazing you are . . .
There’s a famous saying that says, “We hold our children in our arms for a little while, and in our hearts forever.” Every parent knows it’s true. But for mothers, well, it’s literally true.
These cells, full of our children’s DNA, collect in our hearts, our brains . . . everywhere we can think of. They become part of us, often staying with us for decades upon decades. This is true even if baby we carried didn’t live to be born, writes Laura Weldon.
The full impact of microchimerism is not known, but according to Weldon, there’s evidence that fetal cells may:
Science News explains the heart connection this way:
However, as Weldon states, “family dynamics are complicated even at the cellular level.” While in many cases a large quantity of fetal cells is associated with a decrease in autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, in some cases the presence of the cells may trigger or aggravate an autoimmune disorder. Scientists are still exploring possible explanations for different outcomes.
“How exactly is my body able to write my daughter a prescription for her illness without a diagnosis?” That’s what Angela Garbes wanted to know when she interviewed biologist Katie Hinde for this article in The Stranger.
Researchers have long known that breastfeeding provides real-time immune support, meaning that as your baby encounters bacteria and viruses, you will make immune boosting compounds and pass them on via breast milk.
But how does your body know when to make them, and what exactly to make? Dr. Hinde has an interesting theory: Baby backwash.
For a more scientific explanation, including a link to the 2004 study that first discovered “baby backwash” and another that tracked leukocytes in breastmilk, check out this article.
Another awesome feedback mechanism is kissing. Yes, KISSING.
Breastfeeding for a full year conveys immune factors for all the seasons – cold, flu and allergy. If breastfeeding continues into the second year of life, some immune factors actually increase in concentration. (5)
Note: As I shared in this post, breastfeeding my second child was not an easy journey. I fully embrace the notion that our bodies are capable and wise, but I also know that sometimes in our effort overcome disempowering messages regarding birth and breastfeeding, we accidentally create an environment that is unfriendly to moms struggling with disappointments in these areas. If that is you, know that you are loved and celebrated here.
Even if, like me, you can’t carry a tune. You see, our bodies synchronize with music, and sometimes even with those we love most.
In addition, this study found that 3-month old babies and their mothers coordinate heart rhythms when moms show signs of affection like smiling.
Babies have faster heart rates than adults, but researchers found that mom-baby pairs hit more beats together than babies and women who were not their mothers.
This study found that our hearts can sync with a loved one during stressful situations. The connection didn’t rely on biological connection, which I’m sure is no surprise to the amazing families I know that have chosen adoption.
So what about non-stressful events? Well, this study found that couples who sat on a couch a few feet away from each other synchronized heart rates and respiration, even when they didn’t speak or touch.
The same was not true when individuals sat near people who were not their spouse. Though the study was limited to couples, it seems likely that the physiological connection already demonstrated between parents and children (biological or chosen) in previous studies would endure as the relationship grows. Pretty amazing, right?
What happens when ask a group of 7-12 year old girls to deliver an impromptu speech and then publicly quiz them with a series of math problems? Stress, and lots of it.
In a study where researchers created this exact scenario, they took one more step and tried to find out what would most help the girls return to a relaxed state.
Interestingly, the soothing effect lingered long after the conversation ended. Who knew?
Know a mom who needs to be reminded how amazing she is? Share this post with her!
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