Pregnancy Brain: Myth or Reality?

Introduction:

Pregnancy is when truckloads of changes happen in a woman’s body. Pregnancy brain, which involves feelings of forgetfulness, mental fogginess, and inattention, is a common complaint in pregnancy, but not all studies support the point that women experience decreased cognitive ability during pregnancy. As many as 50 to 80 percent of women experience memory issues during pregnancy. Reviews of numerous studies have concluded the fact that a few real differences in memory during and after pregnancy can occur, but the mechanisms are not clearly understood.

What Are the Causes of Pregnancy Brain?

A pregnant woman will experience numerous physical and mental changes that can result in pregnancy brain. Pregnancy brain can be caused due to one or more of the following factors:

• Hormonal Changes: Hormones play a major role in the manifestation of various pregnancy-related symptoms. During pregnancy, there is a surge in the levels of various hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone. A few scientists and doctors believe that this dramatic increase in the levels of hormones can affect one’s ability to think clearly, recall, and focus on certain things.

• Sleep Deprivation: It is common for pregnant women to experience some degree of insomnia during pregnancy. Many women will feel extremely exhausted in the first trimester and may feel as if they have not completely rested. Nausea, heartburn, and leg cramps further affect sleep. A few women may experience difficulty sleeping later in pregnancy. Sleeping in a comfortable position, experiencing aches and pains, and waking up frequently to use the restroom may further affect the quality of sleep. Sleep deprivation can affect one’s mood and memory. Enjoying a good sleep helps the brain to make critical connections that help process various information.

• Stress and Anxiety: Being pregnant can make one feel excited and overwhelmed. Pregnancy symptoms, doctor’s appointments, fear of childbirth, and so on further add to the stress. All these can clog up one’s emotional health, which might affect one’s focus.

• Physical Changes in the Brain: A study done in 2016 shows that certain physiological changes happen in the structure of all women’s brains during pregnancy. Scans of pregnant women show a significant decrease in the volume of gray matter in regions of the brain that aid with social cognition. Similar changes were found to occur in certain parts of the brain involved in relationship building. This could probably occur since the brain clears space to enable maternal attachment. Follow-up scans showed that these changes in volume could persist for two years or even longer.

How Long Does the Pregnancy Brain Persist?

Perceived memory changes can manifest at any point during pregnancy and after pregnancy in the postpartum period. The physical fatigue that occurs in the first trimester can also be accompanied by cognitive fatigue, which can affect one’s memory and attention. Also, as pregnancy progresses, there are many things that pregnant mothers focus on, which can cause things to be overlooked or forgotten. After delivery, mood changes and sleep deprivation can cause cognitive changes in a mother who is occupied with more tasks than before.

How Can Expectant Mothers Deal With Pregnancy Brain?

Expectant mothers can deal with pregnancy brain in the following ways:

• One can take support from family members to minimize the load and reduce the number of things that need to be remembered so that the pregnant mother can focus on what is most important.

• It is advisable to sleep well at night. If that is not possible, then one can take short naps during the day.

• Exercising regularly is not only important for a healthy pregnancy, but it also reduces stress, sharpens memory, and aids in enjoying a good sleep.

• One can jot down important tasks or work to be done to avoid forgetting.

• A daily calendar can be maintained to stay organized.

• Alarms or notifications can be set for important tasks, meetings, or appointments.

• Taking pictures of where one left their keys, or parked car in a parking lot can help one remember things.

• One can play brain-boosting games like crossword puzzles, and so on to keep the brain active.

• Certain foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins can enhance brain function. Foods like salmon and fatty fish are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that aid in building brain cells necessary for memory and cognition. Egg yolks contain high levels of choline (a nutrient that makes acetylcholine), which helps improve memory and stabilize mood. Blueberries contain antioxidants that fight brain-fogging inflammation and aid in boosting communication between brain cells. Green, leafy vegetables are rich in folate, vitamin K, and other brain-empowering vitamins and minerals that enhance one’s ability to think and recall.

• Staying hydrated by drinking sufficient water is very important and is more important during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, especially if one is breastfeeding. The brain requires sufficient water to function appropriately. Even mild dehydration can affect one’s energy level and ability to concentrate.

• A lot of physical, mental, and emotional changes occur during pregnancy and after the baby is born. So, one must learn to be kind to themselves if certain things go wrong. Instead, one must find humor in the situation.

• Partners, co-workers, and family members can help reduce the stress of expectant mothers by helping them at home or in the office. Partners or family members should not point out or exaggerate if the pregnant mother makes any mistakes. It is essential to be supportive, understand, and accept the increased demands of pregnancy and parenthood.

Is Pregnancy Brain a Cause for Concern?

If memory loss makes one feel extremely worried or if it causes severe anxiety, then one must talk with their physician. They might assess if there are other causes for memory issues that require intervention. One must not hesitate to hide their problems from others. Also, one can talk with other pregnant women to find out what is normal or discuss their hardships with the physician. If one experiences memory lapses during pregnancy, one must remember that it is completely normal. By taking help from friends and family members, one can easily deal with a pregnancy brain.

Conclusion:

Certain changes in the brain during pregnancy can result in some memory and attention difficulties, but these changes can have important benefits. Though more research is required, it is evident that pregnancy is a critical period of neurodevelopment. So, if one feels forgetful or inattentive during pregnancy, then one must remember the fact that the body is just building a brain that will be more responsive to various demands of parenting. Pregnant women who experience brain fog usually have minor, manageable forgetfulness, which is usually temporary.