Contents:
- Medical Video: LIFE of a BILLIONAIRE'S SON
- 1. Hormonal changes
- 2. Changes in the brain
- 3. Increased weight
Medical Video: LIFE of a BILLIONAIRE'S SON
Being a parent is an experience that can change your life to 180 degrees. Especially when your little one has just been born. Starting from the daily activities, thoughts, and feelings you become fully devoted to the dearest baby. For women who have just given birth, it is only natural that their bodies experience various kinds of changes. For example cellulite or weight gain appears. Pregnancy and labor can indeed bring a lot of changes to the mother. Then, what about the changes to the new father? Are there differences that men experience before and after their babies are born?
Many new fathers report that as long as his wife became pregnant until her child was born, they also experienced various changes. The most complained of are changes in mood, nausea, fatigue, and weight gain. These various conditions apparently did not return immediately as usual when a child is awaited has been born. After meeting the baby, men will actually feel the kinds of changes in him, both physically and psychologically. Wondering what physical changes do you experience after your baby is born? Here is the full explanation.
READ ALSO: It turns out that Father Can Also Affect Postpartum Depression
1. Hormonal changes
The biggest changes to the new father occur in his body. According to a study published in a journal in the United States, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, men experience significant hormonal changes after their children are born.
In general, men have high levels of testosterone. These hormones greatly affect the aggressiveness of men. However, a study conducted in 2013 successfully observed that new fathers experienced a significant reduction in testosterone levels. This makes the father become more gentle when spending time with his baby. These changes also make it easier for fathers to care for mothers and babies after labor, which may be more difficult for men with high testosterone levels.
Along with the decrease in the hormone testosterone, men whose children have just been born also experience an increase in the hormones estrogen, oxytocin, and vasopressin. You can find these three hormones in abundant amounts in women who have just given birth. Apparently, the father whose newborn child also experienced changes similar to his wife. These hormones are responsible for helping the father build stronger inner bonds with his little son or daughter.
Because the hormone oxytocin produced by men and women is responsible for sending certain signals to the brain. Signals received include feelings of affection and care. Meanwhile, the vasopressin hormone in men serves to trigger stickiness (attachment) between father and baby.
READ ALSO: The Role of Father From Early Influencing the Development of Children to Adults
2. Changes in the brain
According to research conducted by neurologists at Bar-Ilan University, Israel, changes in the new father can be seen in parts of his brain. The study looked at brain activity in fathers who played a fairly active role in taking care of their newborn babies. The results of these observations indicate the presence of new tissues that are active and working in the new father's brain.
Various brain networks are responsible for processing feelings and social understanding. Usually women who have just given birth will also experience similar changes in brain tissue. Experts believe that this change occurred so that a new father can protect and look after his baby properly.
Because of the birth of new tissues in the male brain, the father became increasingly sensitive to the needs and conditions of his baby. An experiment in France proved that new fathers were able to distinguish the cry of their babies from other babies. In the experiment, both father and mother were asked to determine which baby cries were from among five other babies. It turned out that the experimental fathers and mothers succeeded in determining the cries of their babies in the amount of 90%. In fact, previously the ability of fathers to recognize their own babies was often doubted.
3. Increased weight
In the past, the phenomenon of men who experienced symptoms of pregnancy like women is often seen as a form of sympathy or compassion for their pregnant partners. The process is seen as a mere psychological process. However, recently a study conducted by Tufts University in the United States tried to reexamine the physical changes experienced by men, one of which was increased weight.
READ ALSO: Excessive Body Weight Makes Your Body Older 10 Years
According to experts involved, humans are a unique species because the obligation to raise children applies to married couples, not just one person. This system is known as biparenting. Other species that also apply this system are marmosets (thumb monkeys) and tarmarin monkeys. Observations made on these species show that male monkeys also experience physical changes like pregnant and childbirth female monkeys.
In male monkeys whose partners are pregnant, their weight increases by up to 20%. The study of primates is also a stepping stone to understanding why men who have just become fathers also experience physical changes even though they are not pregnant or giving birth.
Changes in new fathers in the form of weight gain can be caused by hormonal changes. In addition, weight gain may also occur because the father's body prepares more energy and strength. The energy and strength will be very useful when caring for the baby.
