Guide | Memory Changes During Pregnancy: What You Should Know
Is forgetfulness during pregnancy real? Experts discuss the issue and offer suggestions.
Many women experience memory changes during pregnancy, sometimes called "pregnancy brain" or "mommy brain." Although some studies question the phenomenon, many experts believe it is real. So what can you do if it happens during pregnancy?
1. Pregnancy brain is real, but...
Pregnancy does not change the structure of a woman's brain, but some women do feel less mentally sharp during pregnancy.
Dr. Helen Christensen of the Australian National University says, "If you read pregnancy manuals and listen to pregnant women, then yes, pregnancy brain or mommy brain exists. Some studies also show a decline in memory." However, she adds, "Our research shows that brain capacity does not change during pregnancy."
2. What causes "mommy brain"?
Memory problems are completely normal when you are busy, stressed, or sleep-deprived. Dr. Jane Martin, Director of the Neuropsychological Testing and Evaluation Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, agrees: "No one's memory is good when they are not getting enough sleep and are handling several tasks at once. Lack of sleep reduces mental sharpness."
Sharp hormonal changes and new priorities may contribute to pregnancy brain. Dr. Louann Brizendine, Director of the Women's Mood and Hormone Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco, explains: "During pregnancy, progesterone and estrogen levels in the brain rise 15- to 40-fold. These hormones affect many types of neurons in the brain. During delivery, surges of oxytocin not only trigger uterine contractions and milk production, but also affect brain circuits."
Pregnancy also changes what you focus on. IQ does not change, but priorities do. "There is only so much room in your brain, and the top priorities are all occupied by the baby," Brizendine says.
3. What pregnancy brain feels like
A typical example is "walking into a room to get something and forgetting what it was, five to ten times a day," Brizendine explains.
Women's health expert Dr. Donnica Moore notes that, from an evolutionary perspective, this memory impairment may help women set aside other concerns and focus on caring for their child. Many pregnant women and new mothers spend considerable time thinking about the changes brought by childbirth or caring for a newborn, which may affect short-term memory.
4. How to support your memory
Moore says that feeling less mentally sharp than usual should be the first sign to simplify other areas of life, as life is about to become more complex.
After the baby is born, sleep deprivation is an obvious factor. Brizendine says, "Women can accumulate up to 700 hours of sleep debt in the first year after giving birth, which prevents the brain from functioning at its best."
What can you do?
Write things down. Dr. Geeta Sharma, an obstetrician-gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, says, "Most patients comment, 'I have to write my questions down or I will forget them,' and mention that they are generally more forgetful." Whether it is a shopping list or a list of questions for your doctor, writing it down helps. "Make lists, use a planner, and keep your sense of humor," Moore says.
Get more sleep. This may be difficult for new parents, but it can help. Brizendine says, "Most mothers need more deep sleep, and once they sleep better, some symptoms of mommy brain disappear within a week."
Memory problems become a concern if they affect safety, such as forgetting to place your child in a car seat. Otherwise, they are a normal phenomenon.
Guide | Memory Changes During Pregnancy: What You Should Know
Guide | Memory Changes During Pregnancy: What You Should Know
Is forgetfulness during pregnancy real? Experts discuss the issue and offer suggestions.
Many women experience memory changes during pregnancy, sometimes called "pregnancy brain" or "mommy brain." Although some studies question the phenomenon, many experts believe it is real. So what can you do if it happens during pregnancy?
1. Pregnancy brain is real, but...
Pregnancy does not change the structure of a woman's brain, but some women do feel less mentally sharp during pregnancy.
Dr. Helen Christensen of the Australian National University says, "If you read pregnancy manuals and listen to pregnant women, then yes, pregnancy brain or mommy brain exists. Some studies also show a decline in memory." However, she adds, "Our research shows that brain capacity does not change during pregnancy."
2. What causes "mommy brain"?
Memory problems are completely normal when you are busy, stressed, or sleep-deprived. Dr. Jane Martin, Director of the Neuropsychological Testing and Evaluation Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, agrees: "No one's memory is good when they are not getting enough sleep and are handling several tasks at once. Lack of sleep reduces mental sharpness."
Sharp hormonal changes and new priorities may contribute to pregnancy brain. Dr. Louann Brizendine, Director of the Women's Mood and Hormone Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco, explains: "During pregnancy, progesterone and estrogen levels in the brain rise 15- to 40-fold. These hormones affect many types of neurons in the brain. During delivery, surges of oxytocin not only trigger uterine contractions and milk production, but also affect brain circuits."
Pregnancy also changes what you focus on. IQ does not change, but priorities do. "There is only so much room in your brain, and the top priorities are all occupied by the baby," Brizendine says.
3. What pregnancy brain feels like
A typical example is "walking into a room to get something and forgetting what it was, five to ten times a day," Brizendine explains.
Women's health expert Dr. Donnica Moore notes that, from an evolutionary perspective, this memory impairment may help women set aside other concerns and focus on caring for their child. Many pregnant women and new mothers spend considerable time thinking about the changes brought by childbirth or caring for a newborn, which may affect short-term memory.
4. How to support your memory
Moore says that feeling less mentally sharp than usual should be the first sign to simplify other areas of life, as life is about to become more complex.
After the baby is born, sleep deprivation is an obvious factor. Brizendine says, "Women can accumulate up to 700 hours of sleep debt in the first year after giving birth, which prevents the brain from functioning at its best."
What can you do?
Write things down. Dr. Geeta Sharma, an obstetrician-gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, says, "Most patients comment, 'I have to write my questions down or I will forget them,' and mention that they are generally more forgetful." Whether it is a shopping list or a list of questions for your doctor, writing it down helps. "Make lists, use a planner, and keep your sense of humor," Moore says.
Get more sleep. This may be difficult for new parents, but it can help. Brizendine says, "Most mothers need more deep sleep, and once they sleep better, some symptoms of mommy brain disappear within a week."
Memory problems become a concern if they affect safety, such as forgetting to place your child in a car seat. Otherwise, they are a normal phenomenon.
Source:
Collected online