Hello Baby! Pregnancy Brain

How often do you misplace your keys, leave your phone in the fridge, or find yourself doing the silliest things with no explanation? New mom, Khanyisile Molomo takes a look at pregnancy brain, and how you can cope with it

- Khanyisile Molomo

In a hurry to fetch her son from school one day, a mother once left her house with no pants on and a towel still wrapped around her wet hair. She only realised something was off after her neighbour gave her an uncomfortable smile as she was driving out. Another mom-to-be tried to unlock her house door with her car keys. It took her ten minutes to figure out why the door wouldn’t open. A lot of pregnant women claim that they notice a difference in memory and mental sharpness while pregnant. Can we just call it poor memory or an occasional ditzy moment, something that most people, regardless of pregnancy, experience every now and then, or could it be something more, something very related to pregnancy?

PREGNANCY BRAIN OR PORRIDGE BRAIN EXPLAINED

For many pregnant moms, pregnancy brain or momnesia is very real. This phenomenon can be described as a mental state that occurs a couple of weeks or months into pregnancy when a woman who is normally well composed and organised suddenly experiences episodes of unexplainable disorganisation and forgetfulness. These moments are rather sporadic and do not necessarily affect the woman’s general state of being able to function properly. They are said to last a couple of weeks or sometimes months post-partum. Feeling like you’re not able to think or perform as well as you used to can be quite frustrating, however, if you decide to look at the lighter side of life, you’ll most definitely come out with a much deserved laugh or two.

Pregnancy in itself comes with a lot of planning and all these preparations have to take place while you’re trying to keep up with the responsibilities and duties that you had before your bundle of joy made their way into your belly (and heart). It is no wonder why so many women report experiencing pregnancy brain. Your mind doesn’t get enough time to rest!

WHEN HORMONES COME INTO PLAY