Could Being Pregnant Make You Younger?

Whether you have the desire for kids or the desire for eternal birth control, the science doesn't lie: pregnancy slows the aging process and is a boon to health as a whole. New research published in Fertility and Sterility has found that having a baby has a "rejuvenating effect" on the body at large. The findings were especially significant for older women, who would naturally benefit more strongly from this unintended bodily refresher.

If you've ever heard someone tell a pregnant woman that her eyes were brighter, her skin clearer, and her aura more welcoming, this might explain why; her body is literally going through a cleanse of the baby persuasion. It was a group of researchers at Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem that first discovered the phenomenon when they transplanted livers in both pregnant and non-pregnant mice. The pregnant mice had a 96 percent liver regeneration rate, versus the age comparable non-pregnant group who came in at a measly 46 percent. This is amazing news as it suggests that pregnancy, which typically gets a rather negative spin what with more traditional effects like nausea and weight gain, is an even more transformative experience than previously thought. As far as timing, the effect only lasts about eight weeks after the baby is delivered.

The baby's growth effectively acts as a sort of serum for the woman carrying it. So while we provide our kids life, they provide us health. The research is partially related to studies that have demonstrated rejuvenating effects on the human body when "younger" blood was transfused into it.

What it means when a woman either does or does not want children is a controversial topic of conversation. Parents ask why we're not married yet and when they'll get grandchildren, while our Facebook friends seem to be procreating at an alarming rate. It would be easy to feel like the odd lady out if you're the only one you know who just really isn't ready, willing or interested in having a child, now or ever.

So while studies like this are of great interest to many of us, they should in no way be taken as incentive or norm. The human body is an amazing thing, especially a woman's, and we should be proud that we have the ability to do miraculous things with them; whether we choose to act on them or not.

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