Blake Lively Explains How Her "Motherly Instinct" Has Made Her More Protective And Revealed A Different Side Of Her Femininity

Actress Blake Lively doesn't share photos of her children on her social media pages and has always remained fairly private about her family, but she and Ryan Reynolds have been married since 2012. She just gave birth to their fourth child and shared some photos from a recent family vacation, keeping the identity of her new baby private.

Their first child was born in 2014 and since then they have been steadily growing their brood. Blake has said in an interview before that she and Ryan plan on having a "litter of kids." In an interview, Blake explained how becoming a mother has changed the way she expresses her femininity.

Blake Lively Explains How Her "Motherly Instinct" Has Made Her More Protective

Lila Rose, founder and president of anti-abortion non-profit Live Action, shared a clip of a previous interview in which Blake talked about how motherhood has transformed the way she acts in the face of danger. "If I was walking with my husband late at night and I see a shadowy figure coming toward us and it's dark, I would normally go on the other side of him. You know, it's your instinct to have your protector protect you," she said. "But, you know, if we're walking with a stroller now I go and I stand in front and, like, go towards the figure."

Lila expresses how much she loves the clip and appreciates what a classy woman Blake has always been in Hollywood. She also points out how this reveals a "feminine instinct" that women have to protect little ones, especially their own children, if they ever face any danger. And the "masculine instinct" is to protect the woman and the little ones that look to her for care.

"It just shows the beautiful complementarity of the feminine and the masculine and why that's so beautiful in a marriage," Lila concludes.

Motherhood can change women in tremendous ways, especially when it comes to protecting children. Becoming a mother can also deepen the relationship a woman has with her husband, bringing them together in a new way to combine their masculinity and femininity for the good of their family. There is also fascinating evidence to show how motherhood can change a woman's brain chemistry. The gray matter becomes more concentrated, resulting in increased activity in the parts of the brain that control empathy, anxiety, and social interaction. These biological changes allow the mother to bond strongly with her child and provide care, love, and even protection for her baby. Of course, these changes can also increase a woman's likelihood to experience depression or anxiety (which is why postpartum depression is such a serious issue for so many women). That's why it's so important to find support systems through your husband, family, and friends during the vulnerable stages of pregnancy and postpartum.

When Blake highlights the magical ways she has changed because of motherhood, it's easy to see why she and Ryan have remained so happy together over the last decade, and although she hasn't spoken about their future plans of having more children, it's safe to say they will probably keep growing their family.