Forgetfulness During Pregnancy

Since pregnancy, you may have tended to forget very simple things. For example: not being able to remember where you put your keys; doubting whether you turned off the stove or not; not being able to remember your phone number; or leaving things from one place to another.

At the same time, you may not be able to maintain concentration between actions or words—an attention deficit may also occur. All in all, your day-to-day thinking may become a bit muddled or messy.

Many women suffer from such problems during pregnancy. Studies have shown that pregnancy affects your brain just like any other part of your body. And that’s what usually happens.

So there is no reason to be disappointed. Rather, it is a natural change in your body during pregnancy. By following a few simple rules, you can easily adapt to this change.

When is that?

At any time during pregnancy, your thinking is chaotic or confused; you are not finding daily essentials or forgetting various things. Such problems can occur. However, studies have shown that it is more common in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. But it can happen for a few months after childbirth.

What to do?

Not being able to remember small things, not concentrating on daily activities, and having a fuzzy mind—these problems do not pose a serious health risk but can cause irritability or depression. So try your best to adapt yourself to these influences. Here’s what you can do-

1. Be worry-free: Treat these problems as normal changes rather than your disability or a serious problem. Keep yourself stress-free. Avoid stress as much as possible.

2. Write down important points: Write down these details on paper so that you don’t get into trouble by forgetting any important information. Market by creating a market list. You can make a diary to keep track of whether the medicine is being taken properly or not.

Instead of writing on paper, you can also use your mobile phone. Record your essentials as conveniently as possible.

3. Create a backup system: Enlist the help of family members for tasks that can be done. Don’t put extra pressure on yourself and make other family members aware of this in advance.

4. Keep yourself cheerful: Take things in stride without getting frustrated about forgetfulness, or loss of focus. You can make it a habit to joke about these things with other members of the household. This can lead to a way to keep yourself cheerful, without creating resentment.

5. You can eat foods containing choline: Choline is a substance that is different from vitamins or minerals, but like them, it helps in various reactions in the body. Studies have shown that foods high in choline can be beneficial for your and your child’s brain.

There is some evidence that choline deficiency in the blood during pregnancy can lead to a complication called neural tube defects in the unborn child. However, it is not yet proven for sure. Liver, eggs, beef – these foods are good sources of choline.

However, the liver contains high levels of vitamin A in addition to choline, and studies have shown that consuming excess vitamin A during pregnancy may be harmful to the unborn child. Therefore, eating liver is generally discouraged during pregnancy.

However, eating 50-70 grams of cooked liver occasionally during pregnancy (eg once a week or less) does not pose a significant risk to the unborn baby. The liver is a good source of folic acid and iron, important for pregnancy.

6. Eat foods rich in Omega 3: These foods help you and your baby’s brain health and your baby’s normal growth. Foods rich in omega 3 include fish, especially seafood, nuts, pumpkin seeds, soybean oil, and commercially available artificially fortified omega 3 eggs, milk, yogurt, and juice.

7. Prepare yourself: Just as you had problems with attention and memory during pregnancy, these problems can also arise after the baby is born. Be mentally prepared for it.

Why is that?

While there is much more to know and understand about why and how these changes occur during pregnancy, some reasons have been put forward. For example-

1. Pregnancy hormones: Some of the normal hormones in your body increase greatly during pregnancy. These hormones have different effects on different parts of the body and are responsible for different pregnancy symptoms and problems. It is thought that the effect of these hormones can cause your memory to be a bit weak and your mood to be erratic.

2. Lack of sleep: Although pregnancy is thought to bring about many changes in your brain, some changes in daily life can also be responsible for your forgetfulness or loss of focus. Especially during pregnancy, your sleep may be disturbed due to various reasons. Not getting enough sleep can reduce your performance. Lack of sleep also makes you more likely to be moody. Caring for a baby can cause sleep problems even after the baby is born.

3. Anxiety and stress: Many pregnant women are anxious about new motherhood and the birth of a new baby. Such stress can persist even after pregnancy. As a result, you tend to lose focus, forgetfulness, and interest in activities. Many problems can arise.

Is forgetfulness normal during pregnancy?

Changes in your memory, mood, and focus are a normal and well-known phenomenon during pregnancy. It is normal for your body to go through some necessary changes to give birth to a child and then to nurture it. But if your daily life activities are hindered as a result, then definitely consult a doctor.