We’ve all had those moments when we have walked into a room and completely forgotten what we were there for; but, as an expectant mommy, maybe that’s happening to you more and more. If you find that you have lost your car keys, forgotten to pay some bills, or totally dropped the ball on returning phone calls more frequently then ever- don’t panic, it could be that you are dealing with “pregnancy brain”.
Pregnancy brain may sound like a made up condition, but it’s a real thing that can leave you feeling forgetful, like your living in a fog, and like you have completely lost your mind.
There are several factors that contribute to the “forgetfulness” of pregnancy.
Hormones
Your body has a large amount of progesterone and estrogen raging through it - these hormones affect the brain in several ways. They will help to ensure that your body is ready for labor and that you will be able to produce milk after delivery. It can also affect the brain connections, potentially causing some “short circuits” in your thought process.
Lack of Sleep
Even when we are not busy “growing” another human being on the inside, a lack of sleep can cause forgetfulness and confusion. Combine a lack of sleep with the extra energy you are using daily and the amount of things you forget each day grows!
Big Changes in Priorities
Your brain is used to operating under certain priorities and when those get turned upside down, it will take some time to refocus and remember everything you need to focus on (or why you walked into that room in the first place).
It’s not a secret that forgetting can cause frustration, so what do you do about it? While you can’t control the hormone levels raging through your body, and you can’t control the fact that you need to change priorities - but there are a few things you can do:
Get some rest
It’s much easier said than done, but you can work on getting some additional sleep. Don’t feel guilty about taking a nap or going to bed early.
Be patient with yourself
It’s also important to not get overly frustrated with yourself. Forgetting will happen, even if you are typically organized and “all together”. Getting upset about it will only make it worse, so take a deep breath and don’t focus on it too much.
Write it down
Creating lists can be a very helpful way of tracking those things that need done and can help you keep focused on what’s important. Jot some notes down when you think about something that needs done so it’s not as easily forgotten.
Talk to your doctor
There may be some supplements that you can take to help you with memory. Let your doctor know if you are really struggling and ask them for some recommendations.
Simplify
Life can get complicated quickly, especially if you will soon be adding a whole other human being that you need to care for completely. During this time, it’s important to remember that you are in control of each item on your to do list. Sometimes priorities are hard to set, and some hard decisions will need to be made to cut back - but you can simplify your life during this season.
Keep perspective. This won’t last forever! Take a deep breath and enjoy your pregnancy - forgetfulness and all!