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Mom Genes
Mom Genes: Inside the New Science of Our Ancient Maternal Instinct | Abigail Tucker
1 post | 3 read
“For anyone who is a mother, or who has a mother, [Mom Genes] is an eye-opening tour through the biology and psychology of a role that is at once utterly ordinary and wondrously strange.” —Annie Murphy Paul, author of Origins From the New York Times bestselling author of The Lion in the Living Room comes a fascinating and provocative exploration of the biology of motherhood. Everyone knows how babies are made, but scientists are only just beginning to understand the making of a mother. Mom Genes reveals the hard science behind our tenderest maternal impulses, tackling questions such as whether a new mom’s brain ever really bounces back, why mothers are destined to mimic their own moms (or not), and how maternal aggression makes females the world’s most formidable creatures. Part scientific odyssey, part memoir, Mom Genes weaves the latest research with Abigail Tucker’s personal experiences to create a delightful, surprising, and poignant portrait of motherhood. It’s vital reading for anyone who has ever wondered what rocks the hand that rocks the cradle.
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CampbellTaraL
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A lot of good information but much of the science is preliminary and should not be taken as conclusive. The author's experience (4x pregnant, the book written during her last) provides a lens but she is very much cis, white, in a stable partnership, and of upper middle-class means. Last chapter is deeply critical of the US's terrible standards for maternal care (strong agree).

Between a so-so and a pick (I rounded up).

Tamra Does she address adoptive moms? 2y
CampbellTaraL @Tamra Yes! And dads, biological and adoptive. Encouraging data that shows physiological changes do occur in the non-pregnant parents, it just requires intentional work to get it kick-started. 2y
Tamra @CampbellTaraL I‘d believe it! It seems to be hard wired in certain species. I recently watched a video about a cow that is believed to have adopted a leopard as a kitten and they enjoyed a parent/offspring bond even when the leopard grew into adulthood. Personally, my maternity kicked in before my kids even physically arrived home! 2y
CampbellTaraL @Tamra It would be interesting to see studies on what triggers that motherly/nesting deal before birth in some but not in others. My first kid I didn't have it at all, my second though, man I was on overdrive. 2y
Tamra @CampbellTaraL ha! I can believe it. 😃 2y
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