Memory loss during pregnancy and postpartum

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Memory loss during pregnancy is as common as postpartum memory loss, although there are many studies that show that pregnancy does not change the brain.

1. Memory loss during pregnancy

Pregnancy does not change a woman's brain, although many feel their memory is not as good as it should be.
Of course, there will be a lot of evidence from studies showing that memory loss during pregnancy is real. Many pregnant women claim that their memory has deteriorated a lot since finding out they are pregnant.
But actually, according to studies, normal brain volume does not change during pregnancy. Many studies have been conducted to investigate this condition. The results showed that there was no difference in the function of pregnant and non-pregnant women. Women in all 3 pregnancies did not have much change in brain structure, ability to remember or concentrate significantly.

2. So what causes memory loss during pregnancy?

Even in the average person, memory loss or forgetfulness can still happen if you are too busy, stressed, or have trouble sleeping.
During pregnancy, the levels of some hormones increase rapidly. The amount of progesterone and estrogen in the brain of pregnant women is estimated to increase about 15 - 40 times higher than normal. These hormones affect every neuron in the brain.
Moreover, there are more things to prioritize, more things to do to take care of the fetus, how to keep the fetus healthy while still having to balance work and daily life. IQ scores don't change, but the list of priorities that women care about during this period often changes a lot.
These two are thought to be the main factors that cause memory loss during pregnancy to occur in women.
In addition, during pregnancy, the weight of the fetus increases gradually leading to many common problems. A woman's body undergoes profound changes both physically, psychologically, and daily. It is difficult for women in this period to avoid fatigue and discomfort, making memory, concentration and stability in daily activities not good.

3. Postpartum memory loss

Postpartum is also a time when many women feel their memory declines, often remembering before forgetting later, confusing,... The cause of this phenomenon may be due to:
Hormonal imbalance Estrogen: Estrogen increases during the first 6 months of pregnancy and then gradually decreases in the last 3 months and lasts up to 3 months after giving birth. This hormone has a strong effect on the brain, so when the level of this hormone fluctuates, this sudden deficiency makes the body not able to adapt, leading to forgetfulness and poor memory. Oxytocin: After giving birth, the hormone oxytocin also increases sharply to help the uterus contract to return to its original size, increasing milk secretion - this also partially affects the brain's transmission. Depression: When a baby is born, the mother has to take on many noble responsibilities. With the pressure around, the inferiority complex has not recovered, the husband's lack of attention and sharing, the fear of the husband's adultery, the fussy children, having to keep up with the work after a long rest. ,... these pressures make women prone to stress, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss after giving birth. Doing too many things at once: Taking on too many things at once makes a woman exhausted and tired. But the nervous system works best when focused on controlling one thing at a time. Having to disperse thoughts into many activities at the same time will reduce memory, easily confuse and forget. Lack of nutrition: The process of pregnancy and childbirth causes a woman's body to go through a lot of pain, physical changes, anemia, and calcium deficiency. Especially, breastfeeding women, if not supplemented with adequate nutrients, can cause deficiency of nutrients, iron deficiency, anemia to the brain causing memory loss after birth. Lack of sleep: The biggest difficulty of postpartum women is often having to stay up late to breastfeed, change diapers or wake up when the baby is crying, very rarely do mothers get a full night's sleep. If women go to work early, sleep deprivation is even worse. Lack of sleep makes the brain tired, inflexible and forgetful.

4. How to limit postpartum forgetfulness?

Eat foods that are good for memory: like eggs, green vegetables, foods rich in iron, omega 3, omega 6... Take advantage of sleep: take advantage of when the baby sleeps, simplify cleaning and laundry wash, ... Call for help from husband and relatives or maybe ask more helpers to help the family. Focus on what you're doing: try to finish one task at a time. Arrange items in a fixed place such as keys, phones, credit cards... Relaxation: The brain needs rest and relaxation to function properly. Exercise, relaxation, listening to soothing music, yoga, etc. are measures that women can consider. Make a to-do list: List, note down things to do for the day, list of important tasks or appointments, items to buy when going to the supermarket... Try to stay active in the most usual order. Psychology Clinic - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital officially went into operation in April 2019, has the function of examining, consulting and outpatient treatment of psychological and mental health problems. With modern equipment, Vinmec Psychological Clinic is currently cooperating with experienced professors and experts along with deploying psychological tests and intensive psychotherapy for diagnosis. diagnosis and treatment, in order to bring the best treatment effect.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Article reference source: webmd.com