What Is Pregnancy Brain And How Can I Deal With It?

Apart from a burgeoning belly, morning sickness, and swollen feet and ankles, pregnancy brings with it mental shifts and actual physiological brain alterations. If you are pregnant and have been having days when you are feeling forgetful and absent-minded, you’re not alone.  It’s not a regular day-to-day distraction at play – “pregnancy brain” is a real thing.

Pregnancy brain is a real phenomenon where expecting mums experience brain fog, trouble focusing, or remembering certain things. A recent review of 20 studies assessing more than 700 pregnant and 500 non-pregnant women showed that general cognitive functioning, memory, and executive functioning were significantly poorer in pregnant women due to pregnancy brain. Here’s everything you need to know about “pregnancy brain.”

What Is Pregnancy Brain?

Pregnancy brain happens to most pregnant mums and causes instances of forgetfulness. You might find yourself struggling to remember details, focus on tasks, or give your undivided attention to just about anything. This is known as “pregnancy brain” or “mommy brain.”

Medical research suggests that pregnancy brain might begin as early as the first trimester as this is when your body gets a major surge of hormones.

Insomnia, a common affliction in early pregnancy, might exasperate this state of mental mushiness too.

When these conditions hit, sometimes all at once, it can really throw you for a loop as you’re dealing with the many physical and lifestyle changes that already come along with being pregnant.

What Causes Pregnancy Brain?

Understanding the changes that might contribute to pregnancy brain symptoms and momnesia will help you better cope with the fog. Some of the causes include:

1. Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes during pregnancy leads to a plethora of changes in the body.

During this crucial time, your body releases a host of hormones including progesterone, oestrogen, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and oxytocin.

They can also affect several neurons in the brain, which can be a reason for the lack of memory.

2. Lack of sleep: Lack of sleep might be a reason for the pregnancy brain. Once you are pregnant, you will need to visit the bathroom more as your uterus pushes against your bladder and this means waking up in the middle of the night quite often.

Plus, there are sudden hunger pangs that might also wake you up at unusual times.

3. Stress and anxiety: Stress, anxiety, and the fact that you are carrying all that extra weight around might make your brain extremely tired. This can divert your mind and can contribute to memory loss during pregnancy.

4. Physical changes in the brain:  According to a 2016 study, there are undeniable physiological changes that occur in the structure of all women’s brains during pregnancy.

Scans showed that an expecting woman will categorically experience a significant decrease in grey matter volume in areas of the brain that help with social cognition.

Plus, these changes were found to occur in parts of the brain that foster relationship building.

7 Tips to Deal With Pregnancy Brain

Here are some of the tips to help you deal with pregnancy brain:

1. Write things down: The minute you think of something that you need to do, you can write it down so that even if you forget it, you can always check your notebook or phone.

2. Set alarms: If you need to remember a date or an event, setting the alarm on your phone can be a good idea.

3. Sleep well: Try to take naps as and when you can because a well-rested brain can make things easier.

4. Exercise regularly: After consulting your doctor, you can follow a routine of exercises to keep your memory sharp and keep you alert.

5. Stay hydrated: It is advisable to stay hydrated all the more during pregnancy as your brain needs water to function properly. Even mild dehydration can have severe effects on your ability to concentrate and totally zap your energy level.

6. Include choline-rich foods: Try to include chlorine-rich foods like eggs, soy milk, nuts, citrus fruits, and milk as choline promotes the production of a memory formation chemical in the brain called acetylcholine.

7. Eat food rich in omega 3 fatty acids: Omega 3 fatty acids found in eggs, fish, and green vegetables help in the proper functioning of the brain as well as its development. It is crucial for the development of your baby too.

Key Takeaways

Pregnancy brain is normal and might be due to all the hormones that are at work in your body. However, there’s nothing to worry about it. With patience and adequate rest, you will feel like your quick-witted self again.

Pregnancy brain might be your brain’s way of helping you transition into the all-consuming, totally overwhelming, and amazingly wonderful world of motherhood and that is something worth remembering!

For more tips on pregnancy, you can download the BabyChakra App from Play Store.

DISCLAIMER: We have taken steps to check the accuracy of the information & practices shared above; however, it is not a replacement for a doctor’s opinion. Please check with either your doctor, or an expert, before trying any suggestion, practice, or medication mentioned here.