You parked your car at the grocery store, only to come out and experience a rush of panic when you think it’s been stolen. You call the cops, and they arrive—only to find your vehicle a few rows over, exactly where you parked it. Or perhaps you made a pot of coffee but forgot to add the coffee. Have you ever left the house wearing two different shoes?
According to various studies, many women experience what is termed “baby brain” during and after pregnancy. Baby brain refers to forgetfulness and a sense of feeling scattered, as if you’re losing your mind—one slow memory at a time. But before you “blame it on baby brain,” you should know one thing: extensive research shows that brain capacity during pregnancy and afterward is not diminished at all.
This might make you wonder if the whole thing is just a myth—like the idea that your nose grows during pregnancy (that one might just be true). If it is a myth, why do hundreds of thousands of women complain that they cannot think straight during pregnancy and that motherhood has turned their normally capable minds into mush? Clearly, there must be some truth to the claims of baby brain if so many people experience it, so frequently. The reality may be that motherhood shifts your priorities. Before, you only had to concentrate on one thing at a time; now, you’re trying to multitask like a computer. With your hands in so many pots at once, it’s easy to feel a little less than sharp.
Adding to this is the fact that while brain capacity isn’t diminished during pregnancy or motherhood, sleep capacity is. Major sleep studies have linked lack of sleep—and the absence of deep sleep—to various mental dysfunctions and even illnesses. Let’s face it: even if you go to bed, if you’re pregnant or have children in the house, you somehow never make it to deep sleep. This is precisely why you have the uncanny ability to wake up just before your child throws up. As a result, your daytime mental clarity is often threatened by forgetfulness.
Another reason for baby brain is that your hormones are performing a unique three-ring circus in your mind. During pregnancy and the months following delivery, you experience surges of progesterone and estrogen that are 15 to 40 times higher than normal. We also can’t forget the surges of oxytocin that occur right after delivery, which help shrink the uterus back down to size. Oxytocin plays a significant role in baby brain and can even contribute to postpartum depression (PPD) and other post-pregnancy disorders. Given the hormonal cocktail your body experiences, it’s truly a miracle that you can think at all, especially since hormones directly affect your neurological function.
An interesting study out of Harvard suggests that pregnancy or baby brain may actually be a survival instinct. Your mind becomes so focused on the baby that you blissfully forget where you placed your coffee cup, forcing you to concentrate on the baby’s needs first and foremost. Calling your friend back doesn’t become a mental priority when you have a baby to feed, for instance. Perhaps this is our body’s innate way of redirecting us to the things that matter most in life.
Stress is also a factor. When the body is stressed, a multitude of hormones are released, pushing your body into fight-or-flight mode. This greatly impairs mental function. Even if you’re excited about having a baby, your mind may be filled with worry, planning, and fret, which can long-term create stress on both your mind and body. You’re a good mom, and it’s natural to have worries and concerns about all the changes in your life. This can result in being a little less sharp in other areas. What’s more important? Forgetting where you set down your car keys, or forgetting to pack your child’s lunch or give your newborn a bottle?
So, how do you recover from baby brain? Many moms will tell you that you don’t. That having children forever affects your mental capacity. The truth is, you are likely sharper now, more aware, and more intuitive than ever before. So, give yourself a break. If you have things that need to be done, start writing them down, and make getting some undisturbed sleep a priority in your life. Exercise is also beneficial for the mind, helping to improve your energy and stamina—both essential in motherhood. Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up over lapses in memory or the frustrations that come with forgetfulness. After all, no one transitions into motherhood with all their sanity intact!
When all else fails, blame it on baby brain! Really, who could call you out or be mad at you for forgetting a few minor details? You have a baby to care for now, and the bottom line is that should be your priority.
