Each pregnancy alters your body irrevocably. And we don’t mean the stretch marks or the scars. We mean the forever-changed DNA. Ask any new mother and she’ll list out a litany of things that are now different for her. Like a forgetful mommy brain that, according to science, makes the mother-child bond stronger.
We at Bright Side salute all moms and believe that they are real-life superheroes. To honor all mothers, we found some mommy facts proving there’s nothing like a mother’s love. Or the science behind it.
1. Motherhood changes you, and your DNA.
A chimera is a legendary beast made of different animals. And we are likening mothers to chimeras because every child that a mother carries leaves their DNA inside her. Basically, fetal cells enter a mother’s bloodstream and stay in her body forever. Researchers allege that these cells can affect the mother both positively and negatively. On one hand, it can speed up healing but on the flip side, it can increase the risk of cancer.
So when they say motherhood changes you, it does so at an elemental level as well. Jennifer Garner’s stunning countenance reflects just that.
2. The baby can taste what their mother eats.
Studies show that what a mother eats flavors the amniotic fluid. Something a baby gulps down several times a day. Basically, a baby can taste what their mother eats from within the womb.
A study showed that infants whose mothers ate carrots while pregnant seemed to enjoy cereal prepared with carrot juice more than others. So if you want to develop your baby’s palate for healthy, crunchy veggies, chow down on them while you are pregnant.
3. Kissing babies is more “healing” than we think.
Any new mom will tell you that the urge to kiss a newborn is intense. It’s innate and biological in nature. And science says that when mothers kiss their babies, it’s not just love, it’s medicine.
A mother’s body samples the pathogens found on the baby’s face, and more magic happens within her own body. Especially to her breastmilk, the main source of nutrition and immunity for the baby.
4. Pregnant women make enormous amounts of estrogen.
Pregnancy sends a woman’s body into overdrive. The uterus expands to 500 times its normal size and then shrinks back after birth. The blood volume increases and to tackle that, the heart expands a little too.
And it’s not just this, a woman makes more estrogen in a single pregnancy than she would in her whole lifetime if she never got pregnant. There’s a reason why women are exhausted when expecting and need sleep and rest for a healthy delivery and recovery.
5. A mother’s smile is near magical.
Moms are near magic, and so is their smile or affection. While you need your mother at all ages, it’s the helpless infant who is most dependent on their mom.
Studies show that when mothers smile, coo, and show affection to their babies, their heartbeats synchronize into the same beat. So if a baby is distressed, it calms them down. This is the reason why newborns need mothers the most when they are fussy and refuse to be calmed down by other family members.
6. Carrying boys can make you more nauseous.
There’s a reason why little boys are made of “snips and snails and puppy dog tails” or so goes the nursery rhyme. This is because mothers who carry boys are more likely to be nauseous in the first and second trimesters, a study shows.
This is not to say that women expecting girls cannot have morning sickness or that all women who carry boys have more nausea. It’s just that if you are expecting a boy, chances are you may experience more nausea or food aversions.
7. Babies name their mamas.
“Mom, mama, mummy, mamma, ammi, ma, me, emi, mimi.” There’s a pattern in the name for mother in all languages and this is because the “em” sounds are usually the first vocalization for a baby. It’s also the easiest sound a baby can make while babbling. And so it’s our babies who name us and call us mamas.
8. The mommy brain fog is very real.
If you see new moms looking lost, there’s a scientific reason for this. Each pregnancy affects a woman’s brain and makes her lose gray matter. The effects last for around 2 years. Science says that this temporary bewilderment makes mothers closer to their babies as well.
That said, the gray matter regenerates and any confusion or forgetfulness is passing. The bond between a mother and her child is permanent.
9. A mother’s voice is as soothing as a hug.
A study has shown that a mother’s voice, even on the telephone, is as calming as a hug. Researchers introduced stress to a group of girls and then had 1/3 of them hug their mothers, another 1/3 of them talk to their mothers, and 1/3 watched an emotionally neutral film. The girls who spoke to their mothers calmed down much faster, just like those who hugged.
This proves that if you are under stress, your mother’s voice can flood oxytocin into your bloodstream, making you feel better. And we think Jennifer Garner already knows that, pictured here with her mother.
10. Babies can cry in the womb.
The baby’s first cry is not post-birth, rather studies now show that they can express displeasure inside the womb. This can happen as early as 28 weeks gestation.
Researchers played low-decibel sounds on the mother’s belly and could see that the baby opened their mouth and exhibited crying-like behavior. But it’s a silent cry. Researchers also added that this in-vitro crying was nothing the mother should worry about.
11. Pregnancies leave women vulnerable to tooth decay.
Pregnant women are at risk for tooth decay and there are many reasons why. The changes in diet due to cravings may give some women a sweet tooth and the hormones that cause nausea, meaning more acidity on your mouth, to mention a few. This leads to gum disease and decay.
A simple way to prevent it all is by making oral health a priority, especially when you are pregnant.
12. The earliest milk bottle use came to be 7,000 years ago.
As it turns out, the breast/bottle debate is prehistoric. And mamas back then were pretty innovative too. Researchers have found little clay vessels, some shaped into mythical animals with hands and feet, with milk residue in them.
The earliest of them date back to 7,000 years ago and have been identified as prehistoric feeding bottles for babies. The dairy residue has been identified as breastmilk and milk from a cow, sheep, or goat.
13. The Ice Age made human breast milk more nutritious.
Human beings need sunlight to survive because our bodies only synthesize vitamin D in the sun. Allegedly, the last Ice Age should have wiped us out because newborns were not getting any vitamin D, considering the intense cold and lack of sunshine.
Scientists believe that a genetic tweak happened and mothers could transmit vitamin D and essential fatty acids to their newborn babies, and this may have ensured human survival.
14. Pregnancies can be contagious.
A study of more than 30,000 women conducted in Germany has indicated that pregnancy is contagious. It spreads from woman to woman in workplaces, in an endearing way. The results stated that “in the year after a colleague gives birth, transition rates to first pregnancies double.”
So if you are in the workplace and someone is pregnant, expect more pregnancies to pop up.
15. Most mammal moms carry their babies on the left.
Human mothers and even some mammal mamas cradle their babies on the left side of their bodies, closer to their heart. This is irrespective of a left-handed or right-handed mom. Science says that all the sensory information that comes from the left side of the body is processed on the right side of the brain.
The right side is where all the emotions are. And surprisingly enough, babies prefer to keep their moms on their left side as well, so it works for both mom and babe.
Bonus: Celebrity moms speak about motherhood.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
“I did start to feel this new sense of life. And now my confidence is so much greater.”
Lauren Burnham Luyendyk
“Breastfeeding is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’m in awe of the ladies that make it look so effortless, and even the ones who don’t, you are superheroes.”
Do you have any other experiences as a child or a mother that show us that moms are actual superhumans? Share your motherhood stories with us and spread the joy.
Please note: This article was updated in June 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.
Preview photo credit laurenluyendyk / Instagram
3 Incredible Stories of Wealthy Individuals Who Dared to Live Like the Rest of Us!
Sometimes, people go to great lengths to find the right connections, and that’s exactly what happens in these stories. The wealthy characters in these tales wear cheap clothes, beg for money, and even pretend to be homeless to see the true nature of those around them. The results are surprising!
In these stories, our main characters deal with snobby rich parents who believe their daughters should only date rich men, wealthy guys who pretend to be nice just to win over wealthy women, and girlfriends who only want to marry rich men. Let’s dive into these intriguing tales:
1. My Son Wasn’t Good Enough for His Fiancée’s Parents Until They Found Out Who He Really Was
I’m Sam Sutton, and I invented an unbreakable engine sealant. I never thought it would affect my son Will’s love life. Suddenly, we had a lot of money, but I learned that money can’t buy everything.
There are two things money can’t buy: love and health. I found out about love the hard way when my wife, Rain, passed away, and I learned about health when Will grew up.
I raised my son alone after losing Rain. I made some mistakes, like spoiling him, but he turned out kind and loving. In high school, he became popular, but it was clear that people were more interested in my money than in him.
Will realized that the girls liked him for his wealth, not for who he was. One night, he came to me upset, saying, “Dad, the girl I love only cares about money.”
I told him to let her go, and he did. After that, he focused on genuine friendships.
One evening, he surprised me with a plan. “Dad, when I go to Yale, I want people to think I’m poor, like a scholarship student.”
I asked, “Why would you want that?”
He explained, “If people think I’m poor, they’ll like me for me.”
I thought it was a great idea. We got him second-hand clothes, and he went to Yale looking like he had nothing. The plan worked! Will made true friends and met a girl he really liked named Edwina, or Eddy for short.
By his third year, he was in love and ready to propose! I was worried he was too young, but he was certain. Eddy said yes, and everything seemed perfect… until he met her parents, Marta and Farlow.
They were wealthy and clearly disapproved of Will. When he visited for Thanksgiving, they barely hid their disdain. They didn’t want their daughter marrying someone they saw as a poor college student.
Eddy loved Will and insisted that we join them for Christmas. I later heard from Will that her parents were not happy about our invitation.
They agreed to let us come but secretly planned something else.
I decided to play along.
We took a Greyhound bus to their beach house in Narragansett, and I wore old, second-hand clothes. When Farlow picked us up, he looked at me like I was homeless.
During the visit, he bragged about his wealth, trying to make me feel small. But I stayed quiet, even when they gave Will a brand-new Porsche as a wedding gift on Christmas Eve. Farlow seemed to think he had won.
Then I pulled out an envelope and said, “Will mentioned you two are moving to New York. I hope this helps.”
Farlow laughed, “What is that? A list of shelters?”
Eddy opened the envelope and gasped. “Sam… is this real?”
Will hugged me, and Eddy turned to her parents. “Sam has given us the deed to a brownstone in Tribeca.”
Marta and Farlow were stunned. “But… you’re poor…” Farlow stammered.
I smiled and said, “I wanted my son to be loved for who he is, not for the $570 million he’ll inherit.”
After that, Farlow and Marta became Will’s biggest fans. My son and Eddy got married that summer. When they had a daughter, Rain, three years later, I bought the house next door to be close to them and help with my wonderful granddaughter.
2. I Thought I Was Marrying the Man of My Dreams Until I Saw His True Colors When Faced with Poverty
When my parents introduced me to Walter, I wasn’t excited about the arranged meeting. But when I saw him, I was stunned. He stood up in a sharp suit, his blue eyes shining in the dim restaurant light.
He smiled warmly and helped me into my seat, making my heart race.
“Ava, this is Walter,” his mother said proudly.
My mom, Hilda, nudged me and whispered, “What do you think?” I could feel myself blushing.
At first, I was unsure about this meeting, but Walter quickly changed my mind. He was kind, attentive, and everything I hadn’t expected.
A few weeks later, he proposed with a diamond ring, and I happily said yes!
We were set to marry in a week, and my parents loved him!
As the wedding day approached, I was overjoyed. One day, while shopping for my wedding dress with my friend Hillary, I overheard some women talking in the store. What I heard shocked me.
“Did you hear Walter, the blue-eyed playboy, is getting married?” one whispered.
“I heard his parents found him a millionaire’s daughter,” the other added.
I tried to brush it off. There are many Walters out there, and I didn’t want to believe my Walter was part of their gossip. But doubts crept in.
Later that day, as I drove to Walter’s house, I saw a group of homeless people and overheard one say, “That rich guy in the red car splashed water on us. It’s not even his money; it’s his parents.”
That hit me hard.
Could they be talking about Walter? I didn’t want to believe it. When I arrived, I heard him yelling inside.
“Get them out of here! I want them gone!” he shouted into the phone.
When he saw me, he softened his tone. “I was just making sure some homeless folks had shelter in this rain,” he explained.
I wanted to believe him, but something felt off.
That night, I couldn’t shake my doubts, so I called Hillary and told her my plan.
“I need to see who Walter really is,” I said.
To find out, I spent a few days with him. He seemed generous in public, but I decided to dig deeper.
I hired an actor, Joe, to pretend to be a homeless man at Walter’s favorite café. I wanted to see how my fiancé would react.
Hillary and I sat in disguise, watching closely.
At first, he seemed nice, paying for the man’s meal. But then Joe “accidentally” spilled coffee on Walter’s fancy sweater. Walter’s smile faded, and though he said, “It’s no big deal,” he looked angry.
What I didn’t realize was that he had spotted me and knew I was watching, so he pretended to be kind. After leaving the café, he took Joe outside.
But once they were out of sight, he grabbed Joe by the shirt. “If you say anything to Ava, you’ll regret it,” he hissed, then stormed off.
Joe ran away, leaving me unsure if Walter was really bad.
A few days later, two women approached me at a boutique. One looked serious and asked, “Are you the woman marrying Walter?”
I replied, “Yes, and I love him. Why do you care?”
“Don’t marry him. He’s not who you think he is,” she warned before leaving.
I hesitated to follow them but they were gone. I brushed it off but felt uneasy.
Eventually, I decided to test Walter one last time. When he arrived at the fancy restaurant, I was outside in disguise as a homeless woman.
When I approached him and begged for help, he smiled but barely acknowledged me. He reluctantly handed me some money before walking away.
Feeling guilty, I followed him inside to apologize. But when I grabbed his arm, he turned around and slapped me!
“I’m a woman!” I stuttered, shocked by his sudden anger.
“How dare you follow me?” Walter shouted. “I hate your kind!”
When I revealed myself, his face went pale. “Ava? What are you doing?”
“I see you for who you really are now, Walter. The wedding is off.”
Months later, my parents introduced me to another man named Brandon. He seemed charming and well-mannered. But I was cautious now.
As he smiled and introduced himself, I smiled back, already planning how to handle this one. I wouldn’t be fooled again.
3. When I Proposed to the Girl of My Dreams in a Shabby House, She Showed Me Her True Colors
I grew up in a sad home. My mother married my father for his money, and after having me, she moved on. I watched how heartbroken my dad was, knowing the woman he loved didn’t care about him.
She wanted luxury while he wanted love, and I vowed to never let that be my life. I would never marry a gold digger.
fter studying abroad in England and Australia, I returned home with no real connections. My mom had remarried and never contacted me, and I had just my dad and grandmother, which was fine.
No one knew I was Danton Hardy’s son, the heir to Hardy Industries, and I wanted to keep it that way.
One night, I said to my dad, “I was thinking, how about I start working at the company?”
His face lit up. “That’s great! You can start as vice president of marketing!”
But I shook my head. “No, I want to start from the bottom. Don’t tell anyone who I am. Just hire me as an intern.”
He looked doubtful. “You know the pay’s not great, right?”
“That’s fine. I can live at home,” I laughed.
So, I bought a modest second-hand car and got a few thrift-store clothes to start as a marketing intern. I loved it! I made friends, including Cynthia, another intern who became my best friend.
One day, while jogging, I bumped into a girl who spilled her coffee all over me.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” she said, her eyes wide.
“It’s okay,” I stammered, blushing.
She introduced herself as Heather, and we chatted about life and dreams. I found her so interesting and beautiful that I wanted to see her again.
I worked up the courage to ask her out, and to my surprise, she agreed!
Our first date was simple but perfect. We went to a taco truck, where we shared laughs and talked for hours. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to connect with her.
A few months later, I decided to propose. I knew I wanted it to be special but also wanted her to know my love for her was real.
I found a small, beautiful ring I could afford and planned the perfect evening. I wanted to propose in my grandmother’s old house, a place filled with memories of my past.
That evening, I picked her up, and as we walked to the house, I felt nervous but excited.
“I have something special for you,” I said, leading her inside.
As I opened the door, she gasped. I had decorated the space with fairy lights and flowers, creating a magical atmosphere.
“What’s this?” she asked, amazed.
I dropped to one knee and said, “Heather, will you marry me?”
But instead of the joy I expected, her face changed. “In this dump?” she exclaimed, looking around in disbelief. “You expect me to marry you here?”
I was heartbroken. “I thought you’d like it because it’s special to me,” I said, my voice trembling.
“No offense, but I deserve better,” she replied, turning her back on me and storming out.
I was crushed. I realized that all those nights of laughter and connection meant nothing to her. She wanted the flashy life I’d avoided.
Days later, my dad found me sulking at home and asked what was wrong. I explained everything, and he nodded. “Ava, people like that show their true colors when faced with hardship. It’s a blessing you found out now.”
After a few weeks, I decided I would show her. I called her up and asked to meet.
“Listen, Heather, I’m going to make my name mean something,” I said, planning to reveal everything.
I worked hard at my dad’s company and became known for my marketing skills. My dad believed in me and started trusting me with projects. He saw my dedication and love for my work.
Within a year, I helped double the company’s profits, and I finally revealed my true identity to my coworkers.
When I went to my childhood home for lunch with my dad, he smiled proudly. “You’ve done it, Ava.”
After that, I decided to throw a launch party for our new project. I invited everyone, including Heather.
When she showed up, I wore a tailored suit and greeted her.
“Wow,” she said, looking at me in shock.
“Welcome to my world, Heather,” I said, smirking.
She stuttered, “You look… different.”
I shrugged. “You said you deserve better. Well, I’m better now. Enjoy the party.”
As the night went on, I heard her whisper to a friend. “He’s changed.”
I chuckled, realizing I’d dodged a bullet.
Later that night, a woman named Jamie approached me. “You did great tonight. I love your vision for the company.”
I smiled back. “Thanks. I’m just getting started.”
We exchanged numbers, and as I walked away, I realized I’d found someone who appreciated me for who I truly was—not just my name.
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