Rihanna, Motherhood and the Real Journey of Pregnancy to Celebrate
Rihanna is an icon and now a mother of two. In September, the 35-year-old introduced the world to her gorgeous baby son, Riot Rose.
And let’s be honest, we’ve all been obsessed with this celebrity pregnancy ever since Rihanna confirmed the news during a jaw-dropping Super Bowl performance. What a way to reveal a pregnancy! Anyway, since then, she’s kept a relatively low profile as she geared up for motherhood part 2.
Last week, however, the news finally broke. The Umbrella singer, who also shares 16-month-old RZA (pronounced Rizz-uh) with A$AP Rocky was glowing as she unveiled her first pictures as a family of four with the media last month.
While these glimpses into her life may not reveal the true challenges of sleepless nights or the art of parenting two little ones, they undeniably showcased a picture of a blissful and healthy family.
In the usual manner, when a celebrity gives birth, the media tends to focus on the physical transformation of the star's body or their ability to swiftly regain their pre-pregnancy shape (Yawn).
Yet, there is so much more to this journey that deserves celebration, a story that often goes unnoticed. It's time to applaud the strength and resilience displayed by women's bodies in this remarkable phase of life.
So today, let's redirect our focus and explore the incredible transformations that occur during pregnancy.
1. We undergo a crazy amount of hormonal changes that help to create a baby.
Yes, ‘hormonal’ pregnant women are a thing. But, how do those hormones actually work? And, what kind of hormones are we actually talking about? Hormones are the big ones in pregnancy. Basically, hormonal shifts happen during pregnancy to ensure the healthy development of the baby and prepare the mother's body for parenthood.
Pregnancy kicks off with a surge of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) in the placenta that basically sets the stage for baby development. Next up are progesterone and estrogen, maintaining the baby’s health throughout. Relaxin prepares the body for childbirth by relaxing specific muscles. Oxytocin takes centre stage during labour and breastfeeding, followed by prolactin, which primes the body to ensure the newborn is healthy in the months after they’re born.
2. Women develop a heightened sense of taste and smell.
Most women claim to have heightened taste and smell during pregnancy. Many even go off certain foods or can’t stand the smell of things that didn’t bother them before. In fact, one study found that 90% of pregnant women experience this phenomenon. But why? Well, there are a couple of theories why this happens but studies have suggested that it’s actually also triggered by the hormones we just mentioned.
This heightened sensitivity is thought to help expectant mothers avoid potentially harmful foods and substances, acting as a protective mechanism for the developing baby. It’s nature's way of ensuring the newborn’s environment is as safe and nourishing as possible.
3. Pregnant women really do ‘glow’
The ‘pregnancy glow’ is a real phenomenon, primarily linked to the increased blood flow and oil production during pregnancy. These physiological changes result in the skin appearing more luminous and our cheeks looking rosier. It’s the body’s natural response to pregnancy, highlighting the vitality associated with expecting mums.
4. More oestrogen impacts the texture and volume of your hair
Estrogen, one of the main hormones that increases during pregnancy, also has a significant impact on hair texture and volume. Basically, this hormone works really well with your hair follicles and basically stimulates more growth than normal. It also reduces hair shedding, so you’re growing more hair and losing less. This results in fuller, thicker, and shinier locks, contributing to the vibrant appearance often associated with mums-to-be.
5. Insane things happen to your blood (and heart)
During pregnancy, the body undergoes an extraordinary increase in blood volume — almost 50% more blood volume, to be exact. Which is just wild. This increase is crucial for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the developing baby, showcasing the body’s remarkable adaptability to support new life. And what makes that blood flow around your body? The heart - which also increases in size to help manage pumping all that blood around you and the baby.
6. Women get more flexible during pregnancy
Another example of just how incredible our bodies are during pregnancy is the fact that you get more flexible and develop softer joints, especially around the pelvic bones. This increased suppleness is caused by the release of the hormone relaxin. This helps to prepare the body for childbirth, allowing for the necessary expansion and flexibility needed when you go into labour.
7. Chemical changes in our brains create a maternal bond
Yep, back to those wild chemicals again. Pregnancy also leads to chemical changes in the brain that actually help to create a deep, unbreakable maternal bond. Studies have actually shown that areas in a mother’s brain associated with emotion regulation and empathy, such as the amygdala, basically change its structure, reinforcing maternal instincts and bonding behaviours. This neurological evolution underpins the nurturing relationship that happens between mum and baby from the start.
8. Increased oxytocin and prolactin enhance empathy
Emotional pregnant women? Yeah no sh*t. But this also has a scientific explanation too. The increase in oxytocin and prolactin levels during pregnancy influences emotional and behavioural responses, which basically encourages more empathy.
It’s thought that this increases a mother’s intuitive capacity to perceive and respond to her child’s needs. So, these chemicals create more empathy that’s designed to make sure your baby gets the best care it needs. I love our bodies!
9. Babies cells stay in the mother, forever?
You’ll hear mothers say they feel like their children are still a part of them long after they've given birth. As it turns out, that is literally true.
It appears that during pregnancy, cells from the fetus possess the ability to traverse the placenta, making their way into the mother's body and integrating themselves into her tissues.
This phenomenon is called foetal microchimerism (If you know your Greek Mythology you’ll see the name was inspired by the hybrid mythological creature Chimera) and this transfer happens during the first trimester of pregnancy.
While the concept itself is truly remarkable, the true nature and implications of these fetal cells remain unknown.
In a paper written in National Geographic, Ed Young concluded that the research they have is messy and inconclusive, saying:
”Some cells promote faster healing and benefit the mother too. Others may not. For example, foetal cells could stimulate the breast to make more milk, either by releasing certain chemical signals or by transforming into glandular cells themselves. That's good for the baby but perhaps not for the mother, given that milk takes a lot of energy to make--mothers literally dissolve their own bodies to create it”.
While the current research may be incomplete and uncertain, it is undeniable that the phenomenon of foetal microchimerism intertwines the lives of mothers and their children in a profoundly unique manner.
Celebrating the human body in all its forms
Honestly, these are just some of the many changes that a pregnant body undergoes. And isn’t that AMAZING!
So, while the internet celebrates Rihanna welcoming her new baby boy, don’t forget she’s one of millions of women who have experienced massive changes to their bodies over the last nine months as part of the wonderful journey which is motherhood. Our bodies are so goddamn cool.
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