At this tender stage of week 31, the release of high-level hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and oxytocin influences your brain function. You may also feel brain fog due to sleep deterioration caused by physical discomfort, frequent urination, and foetal movement. This brain fog and forgetfulness are signs that your body is preparing for motherhood.
Week 31 Foetal Growth
At week 31, mothers can expect rapid foetal growth and significant structural development. The baby weighs almost 1.8 kg and measures about 42 cm. The baby gains weight rapidly due to the accumulation of fat layers all over the body, giving the baby its structure and facial features.Sensory development is also almost completed at this point. The baby can now open and close eyes, hear and respond to extra sounds, and light. The baby's legs and hands are also advancing, resulting in frequent foetal movement, kicking, and turning.
Internal organs also form as the brain and lungs continue to mature. All this growth and the need for maternal energy impact the mother in many ways. One such pregnancy change is absentmindedness, forgetfulness, and Momnesia or pregnancy brain.
What is Pregnancy Brain?
Pregnancy brain, also referred to as “momnesia”, is a memory lapse where the expectant mother experiences mental fog, forgetfulness and difficulty in focusing. This brain fog may begin as early as the first few weeks of gestation, due to the instant surge of hormones. During pregnancy, these hormonal surges, particularly estrogen and progesterone, prepare the mother for caregiving while causing temporary brain fog and affecting memory.Common symptoms of pregnancy brain fog are:
- Forgetting little details
- Misplacing things
- Slower information processing
- Difficult to find words
- Feeling absentminded
Why Momnesia Occurs Around Week 31
Research says that 50 to 80% of women complain of difficulty in remembering things that once felt effortless(1). During the third trimester, especially at week 31, the baby's brain development accelerates, adding more demands on the mother's body. Now, to nurture the baby’s maturation, the mother’s brain focuses on supplying nutrients.During week 31, elevated levels of progesterone and estrogen affect the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (areas responsible for memory and cognitive function), causing brain fog and clouding memory, leading to a 40% drop in cognitive performance (2).
Factors That Worsen Pregnancy Brain
Pregnancy brain occurs for multiple reasons. It has nothing to do with inherent issues. As your uterus bulges to accommodate the baby, each part of your body and brain changes, causing multiple pregnancy symptoms and discomfort. Below are a few factors behind pregnancy brain.Hormonal Changes
Hormone shifts are always a problem. Any increase or decrease in hormonal changes creates issues. As an expecting mother, the increased levels of progesterone and estrogen affect cognitive functions like thinking, recalling, and focusing.Sleep Deprivation
Again, this is also a byproduct of hormonal shifts. Poor sleeping habits, incorrect sleeping position, baby’s REM sleep, and insomnia can disrupt cognitive performance and memory consolidation.Stress and Anxiety
Pregnancy naturally increases cortisol levels, which hinders hippocampal functioning. The added stress of nurturing the baby, planning the birth, frequent hospital visits, and setting up the nursery creates a mental overload, leading to distraction and forgetfulness.Physical Changes in the Brain
During and after gestation, pregnant women experience a significant decrease in grey volume and cortical thickness (areas responsible for social cognition and emotional processing). Though these changes start as early as the first trimester, they intensify during the third trimester and can last up to the childhood years of your baby. These are not deficiencies but refinements to increase maternal instincts.How to Manage Pregnancy Brain
Feeling absentminded and increased forgetfulness cannot be prevented. It is just a normal response to the magnificent transformations happening inside your body. But you can mitigate these symptoms through effective strategies.- Prioritise good quality sleep. Restful sleep is essential for both the baby and the mother. Sleep on the left side, and support your belly with a cushion.
- Practice yoga and mindfulness. Reducing cortisol can alleviate stress and anxiety. Do yoga and pranayama to help regulate your breathing and calm your nerves.
- Engage in prenatal exercises to help cerebrovascular flow and improve memory.
- Avoid mental overload. Practice journaling or creative activities to relieve cognitive overload.
- Stay hydrated and eat nutritious food. Optimal hydration and prenatal nutrients not only impact your baby but also support concentration.
Other than the hormonal and stress factors, environmental changes, nutritional deficiency, and lack of support from partner and family can also indirectly affect cognitive function, leading to amnesia. No medical intervention can cure pregnancy brain. It is just a natural process of the brain reorganising itself for labour and motherhood.
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FAQs on Why You're Suddenly So Forgetful- Pregnancy Brain Is Real
- When is pregnancy brain fog the worst?
Pregnancy brain fog starts to appear in the first trimester because of the sudden surge in hormones. But it can worsen in the final stretch of the second and third trimesters. - What vitamin deficiency causes brain fog?
Brain fog in pregnancy can happen for multiple reasons, including hormonal shifts, stress, anxiety and sleep deprivation. In terms of nutrition, lack of vitamins like B12 and D and minerals like magnesium and iron can also cause brain fog.
