Misplaced your car keys, only to find them later in the freezer? Left the house wearing mismatched shoes, or with your pants on backward? Pregnancy brain, also known as momnesia or pregnancy fog is a mental state experienced by many expecting moms. Momnesia may have you feeling like a space case—a little less sharp and a little more forgetful. Without a doubt, pregnancy changes women, not just physically, but also mentally.
Understanding the changes that may contribute to pregnancy brain symptoms and momnesia will help you better cope with the fog. Not all changes during pregnancy are visible—the brain actually gets smaller in size due to a reduction of gray matter. A decrease in volume does not equate to a loss of function. Gray matter affects social cognition, involving processing and responding to social signals, as well as the ability to exhibit empathy and create emotional attachments.
While a shrinking brain may sound worrisome, a new study by Nature Neuroscience[6] notes an increase in brain efficiency, enabling expectant mothers to interpret the needs and emotions of their babies, creating an instinctive maternal attachment and bond. The fog will lift and gray matter will return once your baby is born. This Privacy Policy and Terms of Use sets out how Americord Registry uses and protects any information that you give Americord Registry when you use this website.
Save your sanity by writing things down and making lists, along with snacking regularly and getting lots of rest. Also, be sure to take your prenatal vitamins —they contain nutrients that help boost mental sharpness.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Getting Pregnant. Popular links under Pregnancy First Trimester. Popular links under Baby Baby Month by Month. Popular links under Toddler Toddler Month by Month. Baby Products. Having mood swings? Sore breasts? Hormones, hormones, hormones.
It comes as no surprise, of course, that hormones are, indeed, a major player in all sorts of pregnancy-related afflictions. Your body experiences a major surge of various hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, during pregnancy — and some doctors and scientists believe that this dramatic spike could affect your ability to think clearly, recall easily, and focus mindfully.
One study found that pregnant women in their second trimester and beyond scored noticeably lower than non-pregnant women on Spatial Recognition Memory SRM tests. In other words, they had trouble remembering locations and spacial relations between different objects. Blame it on the hormones — and give yourself a call assuming you can remember your own phone number. At some point during pregnancy, most women will experience some degree of insomnia.
Many moms-to-be will suffer from extreme exhaustion in the first trimester, and may never feel fully rested. Plus, early nagging symptoms such as heartburn , leg cramps , and nausea may keep a woman from getting the slumber she so desperately needs. Other expecting mamas will have a much harder time sleeping soundly later in pregnancy. Finding a comfortable position is a nearly impossible feat, aches and pains may be incessant, and you could be getting up to pee every half an hour.
Suffice to say, quality sleep is limited during those 9 tiresome months, and it is only the beginning of this exhaustive roller coaster.
Sleep deprivation can cause you to feel completely out of sorts. It can affect your mood and memory. You have preparations to make, appointments to keep, and tasks to accomplish. To top it off, you might be dealing with the very real and legitimate fear of childbirth.
So, yes, you have your fair share and then some on your proverbial plate, clogging up your mental space. Scans showed that pregnant women will categorically experience a significant decrease in gray matter volume in areas of the brain that help with social cognition.
Not to worry, though — your brain will plump back up a few months after delivery. Forgetfulness is both completely normal and extremely common. Even if you pride yourself on your master multitasking skills or your ability to stay organized, you still may find yourself having trouble concentrating or remembering your car keys.
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