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Both oestrogen and progesterone act on a small population of neurons in the brain to switch on parental behaviour even before offspring arrive.

While most expecting mothers may be aware of how pregnancy affects their bodies, many are surprised to learn about the dramatic impact it can have on their brains. Studies have found that pregnancy hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and oxytocin play a critical role in rewiring the neural connections in the brain.

Researchers have made a discovery, showing that pregnancy hormones have the ability to rewire the brain in order to prepare mice for motherhood. The study reveals that both estrogen and progesterone target a specific group of neurons in the brain

The hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, acted on certain specific neurons in the brain region associated with parenting by making them more sensitive and enriching their network, the researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, UK, observed.

Scientists have found that pregnancy can 'rewire' the brain, causing 'baby brain' long before birth.