Why mothers-to-be suffer memory loss, and the scientific explanation for ‘baby brain’
The experience of a Hong Kong mother who ‘felt like I was losing control of my mind’ while pregnant bears out extensive research showing a woman’s memory is impaired both before and after giving birth
Can pregnancy affect your memory?
The short answer: Yes
Towards the end of her pregnancy earlier this year, Lisa Ang had trouble remembering the simplest things. “I’d forget where I put my wallet and keys, for instance, or whether or not I’d switched off the iron or stove,” shares the 35-year-old teacher. “I’d also make appointments with friends, only to forget where and what time I was supposed to meet them. It was embarrassing but also frustrating, because I felt like I was losing control of my mind.”
You’ve probably come across “mumnesia” or “baby brain”, terms that have been used to describe the phenomenon of forgetfulness and foggy headedness experienced by many women during and after pregnancy. According to studies, there’s now substantial evidence to support this one-time myth.
“Baby brain is real,” says Dr Zara Chan, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology at OT&P’s Woman and Child Clinic in Hong Kong’s Central district. “Research carried out over a long period of time has shown that a woman’s memory is indeed impaired both during and after pregnancy.”
