Have you ever heard a pregnant woman say – “The baby is draining my brain!”? Maybe you’ve been witness to a forgetful pregnant woman – or happen to live with one. If you’re pregnant, or recently had a baby, memory loss is not just your imagination. Research has found that pregnancy-related memory loss can occur for up to a year after delivery. Let’s take a look at the details of this recent discovery . . .

Have you ever heard a pregnant woman say – “The baby is draining my brain!”? Maybe you’ve been witness to a forgetful pregnant woman – or happen to live with one. I’ll never forget the time my once-pregnant friend said, “I’ve simply gone stupid.” It’s a relatively common assumption that pregnancy affects your brain and memory – but is that assumption really just a myth?

Apparently not.

If you’re pregnant, or recently had a baby, memory loss is not just your imagination. Research published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Psychology found that pregnancy-related memory loss can occur for up to a year after delivery.

And you all thought women were just crazy . . .

But, before I get myself into any (more) trouble, let’s take a look at the summary of the study.

Research and Results
In the compilation of 14 different studies that followed women during their pregnancies and after they gave birth, researchers found that minor memory loss, generally involving multitasking or recalling recently learned, complicated information was common.

The exact causes of the memory loss were not determined, but theories center around hormonal changes that affect the brain and the shift in lifestyle and scheduling that occurs while preparing for a new baby and adjusting to caring for a newborn.

Memory loss can occur to anyone at any time, though it appears to increase in severity and likelihood as we age. Try these memory boosters to keep your mind sharp.

Challenge your brain. Games like crossword puzzles and sudoku can challenge the mind to think in new ways, which in turn helps the brain stay active. Also, consider taking classes in a foreign language or acquiring a new creative skill, such as painting or photography.

Get plenty of rest. Research shows that getting less than eight hours of sleep a night can have a profound impact on short-term memory.

Organize your day. While expected events are bound to happen, a written account of your schedule will help you keep track of things when something throws you out of your routine.

Try natural supplements. Ginkgo biloba has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain and boost concentration, and Ginseng is an ancient remedy for memory loss. Antioxidants—including vitamins A,C and E, carotenoids and lycopene—can slow down age-related memory loss.

Stop smoking. Nicotine is filled with free radicals, which can accelerate aging and the ill effects aging can have on recall.

So now, the next time your pregnant or new-mommy friend, wife, daughter or granddaughter claims to have forgotten something, cut her a little slack – OK? She really isn’t crazy!