Just wanted to know when baby brain happens and if it is a real clinical side effect of pregnancy or is it just an excuse for being so forgetful. And what causes it if it is in fact real?
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Just wanted to know when baby brain happens and if it is a real clinical side effect of pregnancy or is it just an excuse for being so forgetful. And what causes it if it is in fact real?
From Sydney Morning Herald.
:
'Baby brain' gets the official nod
Natasha Wallace Health Reporter
February 6, 2008
MOTHER NATURE can be so cruel: just when a pregnant woman might need to multitask, research has confirmed that the long-suspected "baby brain" effect kicks in, as suspected, and may impair memory for up to a year after birth.
An Australian analysis of 14 research studies around the world since 1990 provides "clear cut findings" that pregnancy impairs memory for up to 80 per cent of pregnant women and new mothers.
The study by the University of NSW and Australian Catholic University compared the memory performances of more than 1000 pregnant women, new mothers and healthy non-pregnant females.
"The results indicate that pregnant women are significantly impaired on some, but not all, measures of memory. And, specifically, memory measures that place relatively high demands on executive cognitive control may be selectively disrupted," the study said.
"The same specific deficits associated with pregnancy are also observed post-partum."
But Julie Henry, a study author and psychology researcher at the University of NSW, emphasised the effect was "very, very subtle".
"It's a pretty modest deficit similar to what you would find if you were to compare healthy 20 year-olds with healthy 60 year olds," Dr Henry said.
She added that remembering an appointment or errand were among the possible effects. Before this analysis, evidence on the baby brain effect was subjective and anecdotal. Opinion varied considerably on its magnitude and longevity.
But the studies showed that between 50 and 80 per cent of women reported impaired cognitive ability, particularly increased forgetfulness.
Dr Henry said this gave employers no justification for discrimination.
The cause is not known, and theories include hormonal changes and sleep deprivation.
Well i washed my mobile phone in the washing machine with my clothes (2wks ago) :cryinglaugh: if that isn't baby brain, then i don't know what is!!! :cryinglaugh:
i couldnt work out how to turn my blinker off the other day i turned off the car instead???
so silly
Anytime from conception to toddlerhood. I have been "vacant" since becoming pg with dd1...wow that is nearly 3 years!!!
I think now that I have had 3 I have baby brain for life shame I didnt have that much to start with :p
My first baby brain moment was when i was about 8 weeks pregnant and i put the dirty knife in the fridge and washed AND dried the jar of vegemite. DH came home found the (very clean) jar of vegemite in the dish rack and the knife sitting on the top shelf in the fridge...
i comletely forgot my pin number a month ago, wasnt even close :redface: last nihgt i went to the shops minus my bra!!!!!!!!!!
i admit it didnt happen when preg. with DD1, so whether working kept my brain functioning i dont know!!
Pure Gold!!!!:
Oh I am in tears laughing at you girls... how hilarious! Oh now I have the giggles now...
How interesting though, I am glad there is some real research on it so I can copy it to DH when he says I am just using it as an excuse! Have to say I haven't done anything as hilarious as you girls yet.
But please send more of your baby brain moments in cause its fantastic and I feel so much better already having had a good laugh!
last week DF and i wwre talking about meats and what I cant/can't eat etc.
We got onto Pork and it took me about 2 mins to say to df - "what animal is it before its pork?"
deh :rolleyes:
I forgot my DH's name for about 10 minutes during my first pregnancy. Couldn't for the life of me remember it and I couldn't really ask him, could I? We had only been together for about 7 years at that point.
During this pregnancy, I have just got 'vague'. Even my DS (who turns 2 later this month) has told me to "focus mummy" which is what his daddy says.
When early pg with DS#1 I stood out the front of Coles at our local shopping centre and couldn't for the life of me find the entrance, all I saw were checkouts and trolleys. There is a massive sign that says "Entry" BTW.
On the way out I headed in the complete opposite direction to my car, I walked for ages before I realised...
Be Careful......it Can Strike Without Warning!
And be warned.... its hangs around.... well I like to think its still baby brain, and not just me :D
Oh man that hilarious... you girls are FANTASTIC!
I'm 28 weeks now and a couple of weeks ago I was heading out to go shopping. I took the garbage back with me to deposit in the green bin before I got in the car and I threw my handbag away instead and took the rubbish shopping...
All I can say is that I used to be an intelligent woman. Now I have a hard time remembering my own name! I think I should have one of those Id tags that says "If I'm lost please call my fiance on..." SO embarrassing...
yep i went to the shops minus my bra too! i was walking around holding myself. and just yesterday i couldnt remember where i had parked my car either!! i always said it hung around even after i had my first DD and now it seems like it is going to get worse! LOL
Puppies,
What a great thread I will keep reading :)