If you feel like you are living in a fog and your brain has turned to mush, do not be afraid. There is a scientific explanation for “mom brain”.
During pregnancy, it may seem like your brain is living it’s own life, leaving you high and dry. Every day is like a stupid anecdote: You forget the key in the door or put a carton of milk on the bookshelf instead of the refrigerator. Your partner laughs when you start to tell him the same story for the fifth time and your friend scoffs when you forget her name.
Many expectant mothers complain about feeling foggy headed. This is such a frequent story that the forgetfulness of expectant mothers was even nicknamed "momnesia" “mom brain” or "pregnancy brain".
Is “mom brain” a mean stereotype
Recent research shows that it is not. Australian scientists conducted a 2018 study in which they studied 1200 women and found that the brain does function differently during pregnancy. The memory of expectant mothers is worse: it is more difficult for them to keep information in their heads and remember the necessary things at the right moment. Attention, speed of thought, the ability to find the right words, navigate space, planning and switching between activities also suffer. These changes are especially pronounced in the third trimester [1].
But there’s a reason for this: for pregnant women, the volume of gray matter, that is, neurons — cells that transmit nerve impulses — decreases in the brain [2].
But this does not mean that expectant mothers are stupid. Scientists suggest that this is due to the fact that the areas of the brain in which these processes take place are being re-profiled. Your brain is getting prepared for motherhood . While your mundane tasks may suffer during this period of transformation, the part of your brain that is responsible for recognizing the baby’s facial expressions and understanding your baby’s emotional state — helping you build a strong, intuitive bond with your baby [2].
Okay... that makes sense, but I’m still annoyed
It's understandable to feel annoyed by your own forgetfulness. It can feel like losing control. It seems that your body and brain do not belong to you anymore — as if it is someone's pulling a prank on you [3].
You are accustomed to a certain self-image — you know yourself by your character traits, habits, skills and abilities. When reality does not match up, it hurts [4].
How can I deal with this?
Painful, but true — there are certain things we can’t control. It is pointless to protest or worry about your foggy brain: nothing will change [5]. This can even worsen the situation, because stress hormones play an important role in reducing mental abilities during pregnancy [6].
People who find an outlet for their feelings and can share them with loved ones are better able to cope with stress [3]. Therefore, do not hold back your emotions: allow yourself to fully feel your irritation, despair, fear, anger, sadness. Share your concerns with your partner, friend, or other person who understands you. Write down your thoughts in a notebook. It can be an incoherent stream of consciousness: there is no need to analyze the records. Meditation, painting, or mindfulness techniques, exercises where you need to focus on your feelings and what is happening around you, can also help relieve irritation.
You got this, mama!
