#21 Brain Bite - Cells Your Baby Left Behind

A child doesn’t just change your schedule—they change your cells. We dive into the science and meaning of microchimerism, the extraordinary transfer of fetal cells into a mother’s body that can persist for decades and even integrate into the brain. With research showing that up to 6% of a mother’s brain DNA may come from her children, we explore what this living mosaic means for identity, healing, and the way connection shows up in everyday physiology.

Guided by Dr. Kylie’s clinical lens and personal story of loss and love, we unpack how these cells travel to the heart, lungs, liver, skin, and neural tissue, and what early evidence suggests about their role in tissue repair and immune boosting.

This episode blends clear science with real-life resonance, offering a grounded take on why motherhood can feel like a permanent rewrite at the deepest level. If you’ve ever sensed that love leaves a physical imprint, here’s the evidence that it does. Press play, reflect on what it means to carry someone with you. If this moved you, I'd be honored to have you 1- follow the show, 2- leave a review, and 3- pass it to a friend who could use a science-backed reminder that connection is biology. Thanks!

Note: This podcast episode is sponsored by Dr. Rewire's Brain DNA test. Learn more at Unshakeablebrain.ai. If you're a practitioner and you're interested in adding this at-home lab test to your toolkit, go to Unshakeablebrain.ai/expert.

I, Dr. Kylie, no longer work with clients in any endeavor. If you'd like more support for your health, I recommend working with the physicians at the EllieMD telemedicine platform. To get started, go to https://elliemd.com/?bp=drkylie. For health and wellness experts looking to provide this resource to your clients, get started at https://elliemd.com/join-us/?bp=drkylie.

Thank you for joining the Unshakeable Brain community. Dr. Kylie