Is pregnancy ‘baby brain’ a real thing?

If you are pregnant, you and those around you may start to notice something odd. You put your keys in the freezer. You forget about lunch with your sister. The age-old excuse for these symptoms of memory and concentration loss has always been “baby brain.”

“‘Baby brain’ or ‘pregnancy brain,’ is described as increased forgetfulness, a feeling of fogginess, being easily distracted and having jumbled thoughts,” says Dr. Kim Goodwin, an OBGYN with Sharp Community Medical Group and affiliated with Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns. “For instance, there was the time I found my TV remote control in the refrigerator when I was pregnant.”

While Dr. Goodwin believes she dealt first-hand with “baby brain,” there is still some debate whether it merits its own diagnosis. “Studies done on pregnant women have shown no changes in the brain structure and function,” she says.

With an experience that seems so universal to pregnant women, there has to be some explanation.

“There are many reasons that can explain why a pregnant woman might not feel so mentally quick,” says Dr. Goodwin. “It could be sleep deprivation, anticipation of a major life event, stress or hormones,” she says. “All of these factors can affect your mental sharpness.”

According to Dr. Goodwin, the first thing to know is that these symptoms of “baby brain” are common and normal.

Ways to fight “baby brain”

• Get more sleep
  Pregnant or not, sleep deprivation can affect concentration and emotional regulation. If you find yourself getting fewer than seven or eight hours of sleep, ditch your bedtime devices, stick to a set bedtime and try mindfulness tricks to set your brain into a restful state.
  

• Use tools to aid in recollection
  If you find yourself forgetting things, lean on simple solutions like making lists or setting alarms. Avoid multitasking, which can often lead to mental burnout, by reminding yourself to tackle one project at a time and rewarding yourself when a task is completed.
  

• Ask for help
  Acknowledging that "baby brain" is real makes it easier to ask those around you to help you stay on track. Share your responsibilities and workloads with others, and don't forget to make room for rest and self-care.

Unfortunately, once the baby is born, the brain fog may not lift immediately.

“Whether or not these symptoms persist beyond pregnancy depends on many factors,” says Dr. Goodwin. Given the unpredictability of a newborn’s sleep schedule, ‘baby brain’ could continue for months after giving birth.

While “baby brain” is a cute way of saying “mental exhaustion,” Dr. Goodwin assures that this phenomenon is not unusual to experience during pregnancy — and even for months after. She admits to claiming “baby brain” from time-to-time years after the birth of her own child.

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