Ep 222 - Why maternal instinct is a myth with Chelsea Conaboy

Hey everyone, welcome to this episode of the Motherkind podcast, the show that's going to help you navigate the massive challenges of life as a modern mother with more community, confidence, clarity and self-awareness.

Today’s guest is health and science journalist and mother of two, Chelsea Conaboy. Chelsea has done 1000s of hours of research into the science of what happens to your brain when you become a parent.

What she finds is quite incredible, and it is all in her new book, Mother brain, how neuroscience is rewriting the story of motherhood.

We all instinctively know how changed we are by motherhood, right? But, have you ever wondered what is actually happening in your brain when you become a mother?

In this episode you are going to learn:

• Why maternal instinct is a myth and where that idea came from

• Why worry and anxiety is so normal in parenthood

• What changes happen in our brain throughout parenthood and why that gives our brain an upgrade for our whole lives.

I believe that when we understand our experience, then we can have way more kindness toward ourselves about it. What she shares is absolutely fascinating. Chelsea tells us we are not crazy, it’s a thing. I hope you feel validated and love this episode as much as I do.

If you found this episode supportive, please be that person who is sharing this wisdom and knowledge with other mothers. I would greatly appreciate that.

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About Chelsea Conaboy

Chelsea is a journalist specializing in personal and public health. She was part of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer prize–winning team for coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing and more recently has worked as a magazine writer with bylines at Mother Jones, Politico, The Week, the Boston Globe Magazine, and others. She lives in Maine with her husband, their two young sons, and her own changing maternal brain.