Experiencing ‘baby brain’ is something many mums are familiar with. The mental fogginess affects many women, and scientists have found that it’s a real, significant phenomenon.
A new study has confirmed that pregnancy can disrupt a mum’s cognitive functions. Researchers at Deakin University looked at the cognitive function of 1,230 women.
Of the 1,230 women, 709 were expecting a baby and the remaining women were not pregnant.
By analysing the function of the women’s brains, the researchers found that the pregnant women had a weaker cognitive function, compared to the women who were not expecting a baby.
Researchers explained the results to ABC, “It looks like the reason pregnant women have grey matter reduction is that they're probably recruiting those areas to more important areas associated with the business of child-rearing.”
Women who suffer from ‘baby brain’ often experience confusion, they lose track of what they were doing, forget where they put something, struggle with staying organised and zone out of conversations.
The researchers claimed that women tend to experience ‘baby brain’ during their third trimester, rather than during the first and second trimester.
“General cognitive functioning, memory, and executive functioning were significantly reduced during the third trimester of pregnancy,” said the authors of the study.
The experts revealed that these minor reductions in brain function are only noticeable to the pregnant women herself and those around her.
The team added that further research is necessary as they hope to find out more about the impact ‘baby brain’ has on women.
Is there anything that helps you deal with ‘baby brain’, mums?
