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Second Trimester

Insane in the Membrane

Insane in the Membrane
Coping with Pregnancy Brain

Pregnancy Brain: Standing in your doorway, but can’t remember where you’re headed? Worried you’re the culprit who put the toilet paper in the fridge? Yep, we know how you feel. Pregnancy brain is a bothersome by-product of pregnancy. Three words of advice: Post-It Notes!! We’ve got your baby brain drain survival strategies right here.

If you’re looking for a less scientific explanation, Paula Spencer, author of The Parenting Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, suggests that absentmindedness during pregnancy is a natural and important part of preparing for motherhood.

A mother's focus shifting away from herself may be "a subconscious way of tuning into the baby and the life changes ahead, a gentle reminder that there's more to life than the 1,001 mundane tasks that ordinarily clog your brain," Spencer writes.

Whatever the cause, (and you probably don’t even remember why you started reading this by now!) forgetfulness is likely to worsen as a pregnancy progresses. Along with the hormonal changes you experience, you will be preoccupied with the prospect of childbirth and of caring for a new baby. You’ve got a lot on your mind! Worries about a difficult labor, your personal finances, the baby's health, and how you will handle motherhood may be more at the forefront of your mind, adding to the distraction. Sleep is often erratic during pregnancy, and you may become even more forgetful if you are tired during the day.

The best thing you can do is recognize that it’s a common situation. You are still the diva of getting things done. You just may have to adjust how you get things done. Here are some practical steps you can take to make life easier:

Get organized. Maybe you've never had to make lists or rely on a day planner, but if you're reading this article, you probably do now. Buy a calendar, PDA or smartphone. Keep lists, and post them in obvious places. Develop some systems you can rely on (placing your keys on a hook by the door, for example). These routines will come in handy as you face the challenges of motherhood in the days ahead.

Don't overdo it. This is not the time to put in 12-hour days at work, volunteer for a complicated project, stay up all night, attend every church meeting, or host a visit from your husband's second cousin's aunt and her three children. Use your pregnancy as a reason to say no -- there will be plenty of time to pitch in and do your part in the future.

Ask for help. Get friends, neighbors and relatives to help you shop for the baby or drive your older child to that out-of-town soccer game. As a bonus, this will help them feel more involved in your pregnancy.

Get plenty of rest and eat well. Sleep in when you can -- even if you got your eight hours the night before. Letting yourself get run-down will only further cloud your mind.

Drink plenty of fluids. When pregnant women are dehydrated, their electrolytes may be disrupted, causing decreased memory and confusion.

Treat yourself. If you find you crave more time for yourself, indulge that desire. It is normal to feel this way, and giving yourself and opportunity to daydream and be spacey may help you be more clearheaded when you go back to your office or attend that conference. Take a little vacation, go on a yoga retreat, or spend a day walking at the beach, writing in your journal or doing whatever you want to do. It also may help to talk with other pregnant women. Chat on the Mocha Manual message boards to find other women like you, ask questions and get support.

Finally, don't forget that you have a very important task at hand—cooking up a live and healthy human being. This job deserves as much of your attention as you can provide. So what, you aren't as effective at multi-tasking as you have been in the past, don’t worry, you’ll get that groove back down the road. For now, just roll with the punches and tell yourself that it’s okay.

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