Summary: Many new mothers will find that their memory seems to be worse than before pregnancy and childbirth. Is this really the legendary \”one pregnancy and three years of stupidity\”?
Core tip: Pregnancy sickness refers to the phenomenon of memory loss and cognitive decline in expectant mothers after pregnancy. Commonly known as \”a fool\’s embarrassment lasts three years\”. There is also a similar saying in foreign countries: \”Being pregnant for three years makes you stupid\”, which is called baby brain.
Many new mothers will find that their memory seems to be worse than before pregnancy and childbirth. They are always forgetful, forgetful, and even suffer from symptoms such as dizziness, insomnia, irritability, and depression. There are also mothers like this in the entertainment industry, such as Big Boobs and Sun Li. Is this really the legendary \”one pregnancy and three years of stupidity\”?
What is pregnancy stupidity?
The main symptoms of \”pregnancy sickness\” are forgetfulness, inattention, slowed thinking processing, and even dizziness. But please note that this does not mean that pregnant mothers will really become \”stupid\” when they have a baby in their belly. This \”silliness\” is due to hormonal changes in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the hormone progesterone rises steadily, thyroid levels also begin to drop.
Therefore, it is physiological changes that cause symptoms such as forgetfulness and decreased thinking ability in pregnant mothers, not brain problems. As for when such symptoms will appear after pregnancy, it is not certain, because every pregnant mother\’s physical condition is different, so the time when symptoms appear is also different.
Pregnancy sickness is only caused by hormones in the body
Expectant mothers will experience many physiological changes during pregnancy, especially the huge changes in hormone levels in the body, which is as intense as a roller coaster ride. British scholars have found that the estradiol content in women in the third trimester of pregnancy is 30 times the highest level in the menstrual cycle when they are not pregnant, and the cortisone in the body is already equivalent to that of patients with depression. These hormones provide necessary nutrients for the growth of the fetus and even delivery. Material security is not necessarily a good thing for expectant mothers. Under the influence of these hormones, the brain volume of pregnant women will even decrease. Women\’s brain volume will decrease by 4% during pregnancy.
In addition, changes in hormone levels naturally affect mental state, which can make a person feel lethargic and low on energy. During pregnancy, the blood flow and load of pregnant women increase, and they are always in a state of load. Naturally, they cannot be the same as when they were not pregnant.
How to Treat “Pregnancy Foolishness”
1. Husbands should take on more family responsibilities
During pregnancy, in order to meet the needs of pregnancy, fetal growth and delivery, various systems in a woman\’s body will undergo many complex changes in physiology, psychology, spirit, diet, nursing and other aspects. If the wife has severe morning sickness, the husband should considerately cook some light and delicious food for his wife to regulate her appetite; if the wife is emotionally sensitive and loses her temper in the third trimester of pregnancy, the husband should also be more considerate. There will be fear.
After the baby is born, the new mother’s original schedule changesTotally disrupted. The life of a new mother is day and night, changing diapers and feeding the baby in the middle of the night. Being in such a state of fatigue and stress for a long time will slow down the reaction of new mothers. If the father can take on more family responsibilities and provide his wife with adequate sleep, the forgetfulness will gradually improve.
If fathers who are waiting or have become regular mothers can help their wives share more, try to give new mothers more time to rest and adjust, and use a supportive and understanding attitude to let mothers know that they are not \”alone\”.
2. Diet therapy, eat more brain-boosting foods
From the beginning of pregnancy, in addition to learning to relax, you must also pay attention to your diet and daily life. For example, you can add some nootropic and brain-boosting foods (DHA) to your diet, and eat some nootropic foods such as deep-sea fish oil or nuts under the guidance of a doctor. Facial development has a certain promoting effect.
What should some pregnant mothers do if they live in inland areas and have difficulty accessing deep-sea fish and seaweed ingredients? DHA can also be added directly to pregnant women’s formula milk powder and some DHA products.
It is also worth noting that foods rich in beta-linolenic acid, such as flax seeds and other dried fruits, are also helpful. Since alpha-linolenic acid can be converted into active DHA in the human body, although the Lipid Research Center of Harvard Medical School found that the conversion rate of beta-linolenic acid into active DHA is relatively low, it also helps us insist on long-term consumption.
3. “Intelligence” is about to return
Multiple foreign studies have found that hormonal fluctuations in women caused by pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding can reshape the brain and make neurons in certain areas of the brain become larger. At the same time, the challenges of having a baby can be overwhelming, and it\’s a stimulating experience for the brain. Fueled by brain changes, mothers have enhanced sensory abilities and can even identify their babies by subtle smells and sounds.
Temporary amnesia is the result of the mother\’s distraction and the process of brain remodeling under the influence of hormones. Generally speaking, after 6 weeks postpartum, the mother\’s memory will improve as she adapts to her role as a mother and all her living habits. Started to get better gradually. It can be seen that the saying that \”it takes three years to have a child to make you stupid\” is actually unscientific, and mothers\’ \”smartness\” will come back.