You may have heard it as “Placenta Brain.” Or perhaps “Pregnancy Amnesia” rings a bell. Or maybe “Momnesia” is what you’ve called it in the past. No matter what name you tag onto it, forgetfulness and short-term memory loss during pregnancy is no joke.
How does memory loss occur when you’re pregnant? What causes it? These are questions that a lot of new (and recurring) moms ask when they experience this common act of forgetfulness. Sometimes, pregnant women think that their forgetfulness is all in their heads, but there really is scientific proof supporting the short-term memory loss that new moms experience, especially during their third trimester.
However, studies have made it difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for short-term memory loss during pregnancy. While studies show that there is significant decline in mental capabilities in pregnant women facing their third trimester, it is unknown where the memory loss stems from. In the third trimester, many pregnant women experience sleep disturbances and deprivation due to being uncomfortable with the baby’s weight, mood and hormonal changes, and sometimes depression. Most also experience stress and anxiety, which can cause the release of extra cortisol, a stress hormone, which is known to cause memory lapses, as well. All of these issues can contribute to memory dysfunction during one’s pregnancy, and each one should be taken into consideration as a reason for short-term memory loss in pregnant women.
There are some tips and tricks that you can use to help keep your short-term memory sharp, but there will always be the inevitable short-term memory loss and memory lapses that women experience during their pregnancy.