You might have heard the phrases “mommy brain,” “momnesia”, or “pregnancy brain” a couple of times, and a connection with pregnant women and forgetfulness. You might have even experienced this condition and noticed that it started happening after you had children. This proves beyond reasonable doubt that the phenomenon is real.
It might sound derogatory to mothers though because it feeds the idea that pregnant women aren’t capable of taking care of themselves fully because of pregnancy. This is the wrong way to use these phrases because they may come off as offensive, it is safer when the pregnant woman or mother uses the phrases on herself.
What is mommy brain?
In definition, the above-mentioned phrases are “Used to describe many cognitive changes pregnant people face. For some, these changes present as forgetfulness or memory loss. For others, it’s a haziness or brain fog,” states Parents publication.
Very Well Family states that in several research findings, it has been proven that having children can permanently impact a mother’s brain, leading to long-lasting cognitive changes. Studies by the University of British Columbia and Nature Neuroscience show that even two years after pregnancy, women experience grey matter brain changes in social cognition. “These changes took place in regions involving social cognition or the ability to feel empathy for another person. In other words, some subtle aspects of memory are sacrificed to enhance other areas of cognition.”
Causes
According to the National Library of Medicine, pregnancy and postpartum involve physiological adaptations, including neural plasticity in the female brain. “Dynamic structural and functional changes take place that accompany fundamental behavioural adaptations, stimulating the female to progress from an individual with self-directed needs to being responsible for the care of another life.” The mentioned source continues to state that reproduction-related brain plasticity in human mothers, benefits their transition to motherhood, however, these changes may also contribute to mental disorders.
New mothers often experience brain drain due to the demands of caring for a newborn and sleep deprivation, states Very Well Family. “There is a neurobiological change in a woman’s brain both during pregnancy and after, which impacts verbal memory.” According to the publication, this “mommy brain” effect is normal and the brain adapts to the new role, equipping the mother to be a better mother.
How to jog your memory?
The WeMD publication suggests that mothers do the following when their brains start going through this foggy phase, to jog their memory;
Write things down: It is advised that you keep a journal that is within your reach, where you can note down all your tasks and activities that usually slip your mind, even the little ones.
Sleep more: New parents are advised to prioritize sleep to improve their mental health, as memory problems can also affect safety precautions.
Also see: Little one on the way? How you can prepare for fatherhood
