Pregnancy Brain: Does It Exist?

"Pregnancy is a critical period for central nervous system development in mothers," said Chapman psychologist Laura Glynn. "Yet we know virtually nothing about it."
 
Glynn and her colleagues wrote that exposure to prenatal hormones is integral to getting a woman's brain ready for motherhood, and that these chemicals are also important for fetal development.
 
If you find yourself forgetting things
 
The good news is that women who experience pregnancy brain typically report regaining their memory after giving birth. If you've had it with having to look up long-remembered phone numbers, there are a few things you can do to help improve your memory.
 
First, try to get a good night's sleep. This means moving televisions, computers and other technology out of the bedroom, and keeping your resting space clean, cool and quiet. Also, keep in mind that eating a balanced diet can be the difference between a foggy mind and clear thinking. Getting exercise and staying well hydrated may keep energy levels up, which in turn may help your cognition stay sharp.
 
Mnemonic devices can also help you remember things. For instance, creating acronyms for phrases—like RICE for rest, ice, compression and elevation, which is commonly used to treat lower extremity injuries—can improve your recall significantly. You may try making up rhymes or committing to memory keywords that help to jar your memory.