Forgetfulness During Pregnancy

If you are pregnant and find that things are slipping your mind, you are not alone. Most women report some degree of forgetfulness during pregnancy. While frustrating, this is completely normal. Pregnancy affects every part of your body, including the mind. Fortunately, there are ways that you can cope with this problem and still finish the tasks you need to accomplish.

 

There have actually been studies done on this phenomenon. A study published in The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing showed that 68% of participants reported changes in memory. Fifty four percent reported difficulty in concentration and 52% reported absentmindedness during pregnancy.

 

A 1997 study published in the New Scientist looked at changes in the brains of pregnant women as a possible explanation for forgetfulness. This study looked at brain images and found an increase in the pituitary gland and a small shrinkage in the overall size of the brain in the third trimester. These researchers suggest that more study is needed in this area. Check out: http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/absentmindedness

 

Knowing that forgetfulness is normal is comforting to those of us worrying about the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. However, it won’t help you remember to pay the bills or return phone calls. There are some things you can do to help remember tasks that need to be completed. Some women find that keeping a detailed to do list is helpful for avoiding serious memory slips. You just need to remember not to lose the list! A day planner or calendar with important events listed can also help.

 

Take a good look at the commitments in your life. We are all guilty of over scheduling at times. If you are the type who just can’t say “no”, it may be time to reevaluate this tendency. There is nothing wrong with taking it a bit easier in terms of work, volunteering and outside commitments for a while. You can blame your pregnancy, if you can’t just say no. when the baby is a bit older, you will be able to take on more projects.

 

Lack of sleep can contribute to forgetfulness. Insomnia and fatigue are common discomforts of pregnancy that affect women, especially in the first and third trimesters. Forgetfulness seems to be a problem in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy as well. While there are no studies to show a correlation, the coincidence seems pretty strong.

 

If fatigue is contributing to your memory problems, try to get more rest. The only cure for tired is sleep, especially in pregnancy when high doses of caffeine are not a good idea. Get to bed earlier and take a nap during the day. Even a short rest can rejuvenate you and help reduce forgetfulness.

 

You can take comfort in the fact that forgetfulness tends to disappear after the birth of the baby. Your memory will gradually return to its original state after the baby is born. Don’t worry if this isn’t immediate. Some women report that forgetfulness continues into the first month or two of the baby’s life. In most cases, sleep deprivation is the culprit

Biography
Patricia Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four. Patricia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. She has written extensively on pregnancy, childbirth, parenting and breastfeeding. In addition, she has written about home décor and travel.