

To think being pregnant affects your brain capability

(56 Posts)
ILoveSparklers Thu 08-Nov-12 21:24:57

How did you find being pregnant? Was your work, studying, driving or general cognitive functioning impaired? I'm sure mine was as wondering whether it's a good idea to do a tough uni course with an exam while pregnant (heavily). Aibu?

RosannaBanana Thu 08-Nov-12 21:28:46

I would say it does. For me anyway. I was doing a uni course whilst heavily pregnant with dc2 and, based on my experience, it is definitely not something I would recommend.
But in a sec there will be dozens of women writing that they did 2 phds simultaneously whilst pregnant with triplets or something. So it seems that it varies from person to person.

picnicbasketcase Thu 08-Nov-12 21:29:54

I passed my driving test whilst pg despite my instructor telling me that anyone whose hormones were in an uproar would lose all sense of direction or something confused

flossy101 Thu 08-Nov-12 21:30:15

Yes. I lost my marbles. And before I was pregnant I used to heavily scorn women who claimed to have "baby brain" or such like. grin

Signet2012 Thu 08-Nov-12 21:31:31

I lost my brain and marbles. Dd now 8 weeks old and it shows no sign of returning. sad goes to get baby clothes out the bin and takes the nappy out the washer

CreamOfTomatoSoup Thu 08-Nov-12 21:32:18

Yes, baby brain is a real problem. I can barely remember the name of simple household objects.

TheDetective Thu 08-Nov-12 21:34:37

I have definitely suffered from moments of insanity, that I'm quite sure I wouldn't have had I not been pregnant.

I'm usually not scatterbrained. Seems I am now sad

roundtable Thu 08-Nov-12 21:34:39

Is it not tiredness?

Needalifeagain Thu 08-Nov-12 21:34:58

Only nine wks pregnant and so far have washed a disposable nappy in washing machine, burnt two saucepans and left keys in front door 3 times.
I also started a new highly responsible professional job 5 weeks ago!!

puds11 Thu 08-Nov-12 21:35:48

I forgot where i lived! It was very scary.

ILoveSparklers Thu 08-Nov-12 21:35:54

I couldn't even hold a simple converstion for a couple of months after ds was born... It must depend on the person but I think lack of sleep also has a role.

hiddenhome Thu 08-Nov-12 21:37:11

Yes, mine was terrible, like living in a fog. I remember driving along the road one day and it suddenly dawned on me that I didn't know what I was doing or where I was going. I had to pull over and try to think purposefully about just what I was doing.

It doesn't go away once you've had the baby either. I still find myself getting a bit puddled and I still can't recall words sometimes.

ILoveSparklers Thu 08-Nov-12 21:37:35

It wasnt just tiredness for me. My driving went to pot while pregnant... Couldn't concentrate properly and I kept getting a bit too over emotional about trivial things...

ILoveSparklers Thu 08-Nov-12 21:38:55

Glad it's not only me... Don't want to put everything on hold for a year though!

Fakebook Thu 08-Nov-12 21:40:25

I was 6 weeks pregnant when I had my first set of exams last year for my MSc. I passed 1 and failed 3. I retook them at 18 weeks pregnant and passed by the skin of my teeth. I was bloody lucky.

Now my DS is 10 months I can't even remember simple things and forget words all the time. I sometimes sit and think for ages what words to use in a sentence. It's really bad. I can actually feel my brain being all mushy.

TwitchyTail Thu 08-Nov-12 21:41:43

I'm definitely not firing on all cylinders. I don't think it's anything magical about the pregnancy per se, just a combination of nausea, aches and tiredness.

But presumably you'll only get worse after the baby, so if you have to do the exam and it's a choice between pregnant or post-natal, I think I'd go with pregnant!

FantasticMax Thu 08-Nov-12 21:43:58

For me it was tiredness that affected me most (spent 12 hours a day out the house, with work and commuting and such), but my brain function was just the same. I was definitely not as focused though, just couldn't care like I used to. But I'm back to work soon and looking forward to being challenged again!

JaquelineHyde Thu 08-Nov-12 21:50:06

I found out I was pg two weeks before I started my two year MA is Social Work.

I am now 17 weeks pg and I am struggling.

It is a really intensive full time course (I'm in uni 9-4 every day and then have to do all my outside studying, exam prep, essay writing and group presentation work outside this time) and it is bloody hard.

This week especially I am having huge doubts over whether I should continue. However, I do have massive amounts going on outside of this as well as 3 other children at home so this probably adds to it all.

bluebump Thu 08-Nov-12 21:50:26

When pregnant I reversed my car off my driveway right into my neighbours car about 30 seconds after I'd commented about how it was odd she had parked her car there. I was actually shocked when I did it as if I'd never seen it there, I had a memory like a goldfish.

ILoveSparklers Thu 08-Nov-12 21:52:35

Exactly, pregnant or post natal...think I'll take pregnant... Although The back pain was a bitch. I wish dp could do the pregnancy and birth bit smile

GhoulWithADragonTattoo Thu 08-Nov-12 21:55:19

Yep it's true. I crashed my DH's car not once but twice when my DD was tiny. I've been driving 15 years and never had any other accidents. I also left confidential documents on the train when pregnant with DS. Also very unlike me. Luckily they were in a locked case and I did get them back unopened. Generally my brain, usually like a steel trap, was rusted. My youngest is 2.6 now and it is much better, although still not I think as good as before pregnancy / motherhood.

lotsofcheese Thu 08-Nov-12 21:57:12

YANBU! My brains are slowly turning to scrambled eggs.

ILoveSparklers Thu 08-Nov-12 21:58:50

It's awful, ds is 3 now and my brain only now feels like its working as before pregnancy. Evolution for you smile

CailinDana Thu 08-Nov-12 22:05:16

It's not that i can't think, it's more that i can't be bothered. Where usually i would agonise about work i just do the bare minimum now. It's quite nice actually.

rogersmellyonthetelly Thu 08-Nov-12 22:05:29

I have a saying - I used to be an intelligent woman, then I had kids!
Seriously, I am still an intelligent woman, but my memory is shot to hell. It seems to get worse with every subsequent pregnancy. I can remember friends phone numbers from junior school, but ask me what I did yesterday and I'll most likely give you a blank look.
I do return to some semblance of normality when the baby is about 3 years old, but until then, if it's not baby related, I've already forgotten.

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