Very often women have reported a general decline in the memory and episodes of forgetfulness during & after pregnancy. So much so that there have been multiple terms coined for this situation- Pregnancy brains / Baby brain / Momnesia, call it what you want, but the truth is that this alteration in brain activity during and after pregnancy, has baffled the scientific community for long and as yet there are conflicting opinions regarding the actual existence of ‘Pregnancy Brains’.
Many women feel that they have become more distracted/ absent minded when they get pregnant and as such there have been multiple incidents where they forget why they walked into a room or what they opened the refrigerator for. Sometimes you may just simply forget where you parked your car or why you called up a friend on phone. While such incidents are completely possible when anyone is preoccupied , stressed out or sleep deprived ( as most pregnant women & new moms are ), it seems there is more to it than meets the eye.
Research indicates that there is a definite remodeling of neuronal circuits and gray matter during pregnancy. It is speculated that these changes may be related to enhancing the maternal response & improving the Mom-to-be ‘ s capacity to nurture /take care of the newborn baby , thus reinforcing the bond between the mother & baby. According to a study conducted in Spanish University over a period of five years and published in 2016, there are significant changes in the gray matter of a pregnant woman’s brain and these changes persist for the next couple of years after delivery. These changes may be a reflection of the neuronal restructuring that enables the new Mom to look after her baby’s needs and may be associated with the development of the maternal instinct.The human brain keeps evolving throughout life and this plasticity of the brain helps a person to adapt to the various changes in the lifetime. During pregnancy and soon after childbirth , this adaptability of the brain is at a very high level and although there is a documented decrease in the amount of gray matter during this period, it does not necessarily represent a negative change. It may , in fact , indicate a specialized process of restructuring and maturation of the brain that enables the women to deal with motherhood in a more efficient manner.
Having said that, all episodes of lapse of memory or absent mindedness cannot be attributed to a restructuring of brain during pregnancy or immediate post delivery. Nor does it mean that all pregnant women essentially become forgetful or dim witted. Pregnancy is associated with a lot of hormonal & physiological changes in a woman’s body . Alongwith that, there is a fair amount of sleep disturbance, nausea, general feeling of listlessness and also anxiety about the future and the wellbeing of the baby. It is quite well known that the day to day performance of a normal, non pregnant person also declines when he/she is preoccupied / stressed out or sleep deprived. Hence it is not really necessary that the changes associated with pregnancy are solely to be blamed for an alteration in cognitive function. So the scientific community is divided in its opinion about the actual existence of ‘ Pregnancy Brains’ and perhaps the only clear conclusion is that there is a need for further research on this topic to solve the mystery.
Whether or not the entity of ‘Pregnancy brains’ or Momnesia really exists, it is often difficult for pregnant women to be multitasking and dealing with the changes in their lifestyle and their bodies at the same time. Studies indicate that the performance of well practised routine tasks remains the same but sometimes it may become difficult to memorise new details ( for eg. A new phone number or address) or deal with unfamiliar tasks in pregnancy. The medical and scientific community is still working to solve the puzzle and newer , more advanced studies with modern technology are being undertaken to conclusively prove the extent of the effects of pregnancy on the brain functions. In the meantime, however, the cognitive changes associated with pregnancy can be managed with a little bit of foresight and planning. Here’s how you can do it :
- Maintain a diary – Keep a note of all the necessary chores that need to be done and tick off the ones that have been accomplished. Also keep a datewise record of all the important appointments and review the diary everyday or, if needed, several times during the day.
- Organise your space– Mark a dedicated space for various day-to-day items like car keys , stationery, tools, watches/accessories etc and make it a habit to place the things in their respective place so that you find them easily .
- Focus on the task at hand– Avoid multitasking and focus on completing one thing at a time. Things get done faster and better this way.
- Take adequate rest– It is important to sleep at least 8 hours in the night and if possible, get a nap in the daytime. A well rested mind works better and it goes a long way in keeping you calm and collected.
- Exercise– Regular exercise, unless medically contraindicated, can help keep your body and mind well toned and better equipped to deal with the dynamic demands of pregnancy. Exercise releases endorphins, which are mood elevating hormones, and helps in dealing with the anxiety and depression associated with the hormonal changes of pregnancy.
- Eat well- Eating a healthy , well balanced diet that includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, wholegrain cereals, lentils, poultry, milk products and 8-10 glasses of water everyday helps keep your body and mind healthy & well nourished which makes it easier to cope with the demands of an everchanging lifestyle.
- Use alarms and reminders– For important tasks and appointments, set timely alarms to remind you about them.
- Simplify and prioritize your life– First things first. Avoid any unnecessary social/ professional commitments and place your baby and yourself at top priority above everything else. Reduce your worklist and only include the necessary household and professional/personal chores in your to-do list for the day in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
- Involve your friends and family in your tasks and ask for help wherever it is needed.
Some amount of forgetfulness or anxiety is normal when you are dealing with a major life event like pregnancy and childbirth. Looking after a newborn can also keep you preoccupied and distracted . However, if the symptoms of depression, lapse of memory and anxiety are excessive, make sure you consult a doctor who can help you deal with these timely and effectively. Have a joyous and peaceful pregnancy .
References:
https://india.curejoy.com/content/forgetfulness-during-pregnancy
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/feb/03/medicalresearch.pregnancy
http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/memory_lapse_it_may_be_pregnancy_brain#1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3521140
https://www.babycenter.com/0_pregnancy-brain-why-it-happens-and-how-to-be-less-forgetful_236.bc
http://blog.brainhq.com/2016/05/23/pregnancy-brain-real-thing/
