More bump LESS BRAIN?

Forgetfulness and a lack of concentration are common in pregnancy, but could this brain drain be making you a better mother?

- KERRYN MASSYN

If you’ve found yourself putting the car keys in the fridge, or forgetting your handbag in the shops, or even forgetting something you’ve just been told, you are likely the unwitting victim of the phenomena widely known as ”pregnancy brain”. Also called ”mommy brain”, ”baby brain” and ”momnesia”, forgetfulness, mental fogginess and difficulty concentrating is something many moms-to-be experience.

IT COULD BE MAKING YOU A SMARTER MOM

It’s not all doom and gloom in the baby brain stakes. Some researchers believe that while your brain does indeed change during pregnancy, it’s all for good reason – your ability to care for your baby is enhanced.

A study published in the scientific monthly Nature Neuroscience suggests that the reduction in grey matter in your brain is simply helping that most important organ become more efficient at certain tasks through a process called ”pruning”. During this process, unnecessary neural pathways make way for new ones associated with strong mother-baby attachment. This makes positive and effective engagement with your baby more likely.

Other changes in the hypothalamus and amygdala are critical for emotional regulation. The changes in your pregnant and post-partum brain reshape your ability to respond to your baby’s needs and your motivation as a mother. This means that you want to care for your baby, no matter how demanding that little bundle is.