You are almost 6 months pregnant! Besides experiencing the common pregnancy symptoms – like nausea, burgeoning belly, swollen legs, and ankles, are you feeling a little de-focused or forgetful? Well! This is just another pregnancy symptom. You needn’t worry about this at all. This is perfectly normal. How? Read on to find out:
What is a Pregnancy Brain?
“Pregnancy brain” is also known as momnesia or “mommy’s brain.” In this condition, you may find yourself struggling to remember even the smallest of details. You may not even be able to focus on a single task. This problem may begin as early as the first trimester of your pregnancy.
What Are the Reasons For Pregnancy Brain?
As an expectant parent, you are undergoing several changes mentally and physically. Such changes can lead to pregnancy brain. According to a study in 2014, during pregnancy, you are more forgetful. Further research has proven that there are several reasons behind pregnancy brain. These reasons are as follows:
Soaring Pregnancy Hormones
It is no surprise that hormones are the major players behind all pregnancy problems. Experts believe that as a result of this dramatic spike in hormones, your ability to think, recall and focus might be affected. So, someday, during your pregnancy, if you can’t find your keys, that’s definitely not your fault. Blame it on your hormones.
Increased Stress Levels
Your stress and anxiety about the would-be baby along with the additional weight which makes you physically tired can also make you feel forgetful.
Sleep Deprivation
As a result of nausea, leg cramps, heartburn, etc you might get extremely tired and that can disrupt sleep. Along with this, your midnight pregnancy cravings can also disturb your sleep.
How To Deal With Pregnancy Brain?
There may not be a vivid reply as to how to properly deal with your pregnancy brain, but there are a few steps for your help:
- Take a pen and paper and write down everything that you can’t remember. You can also keep it recorded on your phone. Whenever you need to recollect anything just check your paper or your phone book.
- Keep certain important spots to store your keys, phones, and other things.
- Set reminder alarms for those things that you are unable to recollect.
- Prioritise the most important things on the list.
- Play brain-boosting games like sudoku, and crossword puzzles as well as other solo games.
- Eat food rich in choline (a nutrient that helps in stabilising mood and improves memory) like eggs and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Have naturally sweet fruits
- Take help from your family
- Stay active
- Meditate
- Relax
- Take a power nap whenever you get a chance
- Take the help of your family whenever you can’t find out
- Stay hydrated
- Try not unnecessarily stress yourself to recollect anything. Be kind to yourself
You can make a few careless mistakes. You might even temporarily lose your ability to think, however with time and patience you might become alert and sharp-witted again once you deliver your baby.
