“Pregnancy brain” or “Baby brain”

Have you become extra forgetful during your pregnancy? Have you forgotten appointments? Or what you walked into the shop for? Where you left your keys, or whether or not you turned off the immersion?  “Pregnancy brain” or “baby brain” is real (you’re not losing it!).  And it’s completely and utterly normal.

And if you think delivering your gorgeous baby means an automatic return to your former mental self, think again- unfortunately it can affect your postpartum brain as well.

What causes it?

Again, it’s just your pregnancy hormones causing havoc! Only this time at the expense of your memory.  Sleep deprivation can also play a role (getting a night’s sleep while pregnant isn’t easy), and all your energy is going to your growing little one-which is what your brain needs to stay focused. Believe it or not your brain-cell volume actually decreases during the third trimester(which could explain why you can’t remember what you just read about in that last paragraph). Not to worry, your brain will be back in working order in a few months after the birth of your little one.

A few months? Unfortunately yes, when your little one is born, the stress of taking care of a newborn can sometimes consume your brain- worrying about keeping your baby alive and well-fed! But once you settle in and adjust to being a Mum, your brain will get back to its normal self! Getting more of that ever-elusive sleep will also help.

What you can do in the meantime:

Laugh it off! It’s just another wonderful quirk of expecting!

If you need to, take advantage of a few memory joggers- get crazy with some post-its or pop some reminders in your phone!