Have you ever had this happen to you during pregnancy? You walk into a room and suddenly think, "Why am I here?" Or you leave your shopping list at home, or you suddenly forget what you were going to say while talking. Many mothers are familiar with this experience. We usually call this condition " pregnancy brain " or "Momnesia." So is this really something? Or is it just something we imagine? Let's talk about this in detail.
Is 'Pregnancy Brain' real?
Many people think that brain function decreases during pregnancy. But that's not the truth. Even though you may feel like you're forgetting things and having trouble concentrating, pregnancy doesn't reduce your brain's capacity in any way.
This has been confirmed by a study conducted in Australia. According to Professor Helen Christensen, who was involved in the study, "When talking to pregnant mothers and reading books, we often hear about this 'Pregnancy Brain'. Research also shows that there are some changes in memory. But our study showed that there are no changes in the basic abilities of the brain during pregnancy."
Simply put, the ' forgetfulness ' you feel is real. But it doesn't mean that your brain is weak. There are other reasons that can affect it.
So why do things get forgotten like this?
There are several main reasons for this. This is very common. Let's see what those reasons are.
| Reason | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Big change in hormones | During pregnancy, your body goes through a major transformation to prepare for the baby. To help with this, the hormones progesterone and estrogen increase by 15-40 times their normal levels. These hormones directly affect the neurons in your brain. Oxytocin, a hormone released during childbirth, also affects brain circuits. This is why it's common to experience slight changes in memory-related processes. |
| Lack of sleep and excessive fatigue | We forget things on days when we are very busy, stressed, and don't get enough sleep, right? The same thing happens during pregnancy. You may not be able to sleep well due to physical discomfort, frequent urination, and many other things on your mind. A person who hasn't slept well will not have a sharp memory. This can affect you a lot. |
| Changing Priorities | This is the most important thing. After you get pregnant, your whole world becomes your baby. At the top of your brain's priority list are things like your baby's health, safety, and what your baby needs. So when your brain is so focused on those things, it's easy to forget the little things you do every day, the little things you need to remember. It's like your brain's shelves are full of baby-related things. |
What does 'Pregnancy Brain' feel like?
It's like thinking, "Why did I come to this room?" five or six times a day. Or picking up the phone to call a friend, doing something else on the phone, and forgetting to take the call.
Some experts say there may be an evolutionary reason for this. That is, nature may be weakening a mother's memory in this way to divert her attention from other unnecessary things and focus entirely on caring for her child .
What can be done about these forgetfulnesses?
This is not a medical condition, so there is no reason to be afraid. But if it is interfering with your daily activities, there are a few things you can do.
- Write everything down: This is the best solution. When you go to see the doctor, write down the questions you want to ask on a piece of paper beforehand. If you're going to the store, make a shopping list. Write down important tasks you need to do in a diary or a note on your phone. This will greatly reduce the burden on your brain.
- Simplify your life: Pregnancy is a time of great change in your life. So, reduce other tasks as much as possible and simplify your life. Don't try to do too many things at once. Focus on one thing at a time.
- Get enough sleep: This can be a bit difficult when you are a new mother. But rest whenever you can. Get some sleep when your baby is sleeping. It has been found that a mother loses about 700 hours of sleep during the first year after giving birth. This lack of sleep is the biggest cause of forgetfulness. If you sleep well for about a week, you will find that this forgetfulness will decrease to a great extent .
- Keep smiling: Understand that this is very normal and don't stress about it. Tell your husband and family about this. Then they can help you too.
When should you be concerned about this?
These forgetfulnesses are usually not dangerous. However,
- If you forget things that could affect your safety or the safety of your baby (for example, forgetting to turn off the gas, forgetting to put the baby in the car seat ).
- If this forgetfulness completely disrupts your daily routine.
- If you feel a lot of anxiety and stress about this.
In this case, it's best to talk to your doctor about it. He or she can check to see if this is normal or if there is another cause.
Take-Home Message
- Pregnancy brain is a real thing, but it doesn't reduce your brain's abilities.
- This condition is caused by factors such as hormonal changes, lack of sleep, fatigue, and giving too much attention to the baby.
- This is not a dangerous disease, so don't be unnecessarily afraid or worried about it.
- You can control this situation by writing down things you need to do, getting enough sleep, and simplifying your life.
- If you are forgetting things to the point where it could affect your or your baby's safety, definitely talk to your doctor.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න