Is “Mom-Brain” a REAL Thing?
A lot of times, we typically hear jokes about “mom brain” and “pregnancy brain”, and it sounds like exactly that- just a joke! It is typically the phrase that refers to the forgetfulness and brain fog that some mothers experience after the birth of their children. The wording of it makes it sound like more of an old-wives tale, like many other phrases associated with pregnancy and postpartum. The other side of this is that being a new parent can be overwhelming, busy, and tiring, which can all lead us to feel a bit foggy. But the reality is that “mom brain” and “pregnancy brain” are real things, and they are not just caused by fatigue.
Recent research has found that moms’ brains really do change in several aspects during and after pregnancy. Our brains have the ability to readjust in impressive ways. They adapt as we learn new things, experience challenges and, yes, become parents. During pregnancy and after giving birth, a mother's brain changes in a few ways. Gray matter decreases in certain parts of the brain during pregnancy, and then increases in some brain regions postpartum. This rewiring of neurons serves to help your brain specialize in all those new maternal skills once your new baby arrives. The maternal brain changes seen in studies may or may not have anything to do with the memory lapses a mother may experience. It may come down to how moms devote their energy to take care of their newborns. So, while you may misplace your phone or forget a friend’s birthday, you can differentiate a “feed me” cry from an “I want attention” cry and you could likely rattle off the times your baby fed today and how many hours your baby slept last night for. In other words, it's not that your brain is slipping, rather, your focus is on other more important things that are meant to keep your child safe and healthy. Or, it could be that the other brain regions that shrink during/after pregnancy and childbirth aren't as important to caring for a newborn, which means that you don’t need to use them as much for the time being. So, your brain puts more energy into strengthening those regions that do matter. Our brains constantly strengthen connections that we use and get rid of older neuron connections that we don’t, as part of having efficient adult brains. In order to have the best and most effective “mom brain”, some things need to get moved around! It is definitely not a negative thing or a stupidity thing. Our brains are a part of our body, which all goes through major changes during pregnancy and birth.
It's unclear how long these brain changes last, but the fogginess and forgetfulness should subside a few months after delivery. While there isn't any definitive data on how long these changes last, thanks to the brain's neuroplasticity, it's likely that eventually moms simply adjust. Especially as things become routine and even more so as your child grows older, you don't need to devote quite as much brain power to their types of cries or poops, or other things they will eventually learn to communicate! If you find yourself struggling with forgetfulness and fogginess, there are ways to manage it. You need to remember to go easy on yourself and make sure that you are finding healthy ways to relieve stress or anxiety. It is important to remember that if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. While postpartum brain is normal, postpartum depression is not and should be addressed by a medical professional. If you are having unusual or intrusive thoughts, you are not alone and you should not be afraid to ask for help.
Mom-brain is one of the many amazing things the body is capable of while transitioning to parenthood, but there are a lot of postpartum body changes that are not normal, despite being very common. If you are experiencing any postpartum pain, discomfort, or other cocncerning symptoms, feel free to contact us here at Arancia Physical Therapy online or by giving us a call at 401.602.7006. We look forward to hearing from you!