Baby Brain: Memory Loss In Mothers
During pregnancy, mothers may have difficulty remembering things and may even lose focus while engaging in any activity. This phenomenon is called ” baby brain ” or “baby brain” and is characterized by the loss of memory and concentration during the gestation phase.
What is the baby brain ?
To date, few studies have been carried out on this phenomenon, but among those few, that of the University of Deakin in Australia demonstrates that the baby brain is a real and measurable phenomenon. In this study they found that:
Dr. Maria Noelia Pontello of the INECO Department of Neuropsychiatry (Institute of Cognitive Neurology), points out that the baby brain is a phenomenon that many women experience during pregnancy. It is characterized by a lack of mental clarity and minor inattention.
Four out of five women have had this problem to varying degrees. In general, the changes are not very visible and, usually, only women who suffer from them noticeably notice them. On this phenomenon, the University of Deakin in Australia has conducted a total of 20 studies on over 1,200 women.
A high percentage of pregnant women suffer from baby brain
Although many women don’t recognize it, studies tell us that four out of five women suffer from the baby brain phenomenon . The most common symptoms are: lack of memory, problems with concentration and difficulty in carrying out several activities at the same time. Things that didn’t happen before pregnancy.
Researchers at the University of Deakin found that one of the most significant changes relates to decreased memory performance. Especially during the third trimester of pregnancy. Executive function is also reduced, but this is in the final period of the gestation phase.
Is this phenomenon the result of motherhood?
Psychologist Marisa Russomando, an expert in motherhood and parenting education, argues that the baby brain has a strong impact on the mother’s psyche. It is a phenomenon that affects the whole body, including cognitive abilities.
Typically, mothers notice this phenomenon because they have difficulty concentrating and because they forget to do activities that do not have to do with pregnancy.
The expert points out that this situation can continue even after the birth of the baby. For this reason, the specialist in maternity and parenting education believes that it is normal for the mother to focus all her energy and attention on the baby.
The changes are not visible to others
Researchers at Deakin University point out that in many cases these changes are not noticeable to other people. Therefore, it is important to know the subject because this phenomenon affects the quality of life of women, especially when they are at work or when they carry out daily activities.
The specialists add that while this situation may seem worrisome, in reality it is not. According to them it is a normal process that occurs during pregnancy. Women are preparing to be mothers and all attention is directed mainly towards the baby.
Is it about hormones?
Psychologist Gabriela Nelli, from the Criar y Alojar Institute (Argentina), found that pregnancy creates a hormonal imbalance that directly affects the functioning of the brain and affects cognitive functions.
Researcher Liliana Nieri from the Institute of Psychology and Social Sciences of the UADE Foundation adds that hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, such as changes in estrogen and progesterone levels, affect neurons causing changes in mood and ability to concentrate.
In addition to hormonal changes, the researcher identifies other factors that can affect the mother’s ability to concentrate and attention. Among these, it identifies lack of sleep, fatigue and stress caused by motherhood.
In any case, the baby brain is a normal phenomenon that can occur during pregnancy and not a specific problem of the brain or of any other nature. Mothers just need to try to stay more focused and alert so that this phenomenon does not negatively affect their pregnancy.
