Pregnancy and Forgetfulness

Now where did I put that pencil?  I was sure I bought some diapers!  Honestly, where did I leave the car keys?!  Ever since I got pregnant, I just can’t remember anything!   Sound familiar?  If so, then rest assured.  There is now scientific evidence pointing to the fact that you are not losing your mind.

Researcher Diane Farrar from the University of Bradford in England has found that hormones actually play a factor in the forgetfulness of pregnant women.  Often called “pregnancy brain,” this phenomenon has been observed for centuries but has rarely been studied.  During the study, 23 pregnant women were compared to 24 non-pregnant women in regards to several factors including spatial memory.  Spatial memory is the part of you that remembers where the keys are, what you need from the grocery store and what time the soccer game is on Saturday.

While the study was taking place, women were asked to document their moods and levels of anxiety.  They were then put through several spatial memory tests in which the non-pregnant women scored significantly higher than their counterparts.  Women in their second and third trimesters were especially prone to more spatial memory loss.   Surprisingly, the non-pregnant women reported better moods than the pregnant participants.  They also experienced lower levels of stress than those who were expecting.

The findings of this study suggest that the high levels of hormones in a pregnant woman’s body affect the neurons that are located in the part of the brain that is responsible for spatial memory.  It is speculated that the sex steroids involved in pregnancy affect cognitive function.

When do you get your memory and better mood back?  Some say when your child turns 18.  But all kidding aside, Farrar found that moods seemed to become stable about three months after birth.  Memory took longer to bounce back for the women who were followed.  It was noted however that not all pregnant women experience changes in mood and memory.

Now, where are those keys?