I'm Losing My Mind

I have 3 kids and with each pregnancy my forgetfullness got worse!! I started keeping a list of everything. It was my brain (and still is!) Now all I need to remember is this: write it down, and look at my list. If you can remember those two things, then you won't need to remember anything else. And for all the other things - like hanging up on Mom without saying goodbye.... just remember that she was pregnant once too so she knows what it's like and will just laugh. Best of luck!
Jen

It's so normal that they have coined a new term... "Momnesia"!! I love using it as an excuse for things when I'm being my normal flaky self... But I would still mention it to your OB because if it's severe there could be an additional problem... even something as simple as your blood sugar being off-- there could be a way to adjust your diet or something to make it a bit better, you never know

You are absolutely not losing your mind! You're definitely pregnant, as I did the same thing throughout my pregnancy. My husband and I laughed how an intelligent, and other than pregnant, healthy woman, could forget her shoes three times walking from her bedroom to her kitchen, a distance of about 10 feet. Just try to write things down, and if you hang up on your mom, just call her back and she'll forgive you. I did that to my mom on a few occasions, which she still laughs about.

What--this didn't happen with the first? Maybe it wasn't as noticeable since you didn't have another little one to take care of. It's called pregnancy brain--and my husband laughs at me because mine never completely went away!
All those hormones do makes us crazy--and with all the things on our mind to add to it--well, it's A LOT!
Just don't be hard on yourself. Take it easy when you can get as much sleep as you can.

Sorry to say, but get used to it. Totally normal. I too have two youngs ones. My baby is 2 months and his sister is 19 months. I lost my mind long ago. I often wake up in the middle of the night and I think my son is my daughter. Or, I can't remember where he is. I get scared that I dropped him during a feeding only to realize a few seconds later that he is safely sleeping in his bassinet. I don't know when it gets better. Just hang in there. The only thing that helps a little is a good night's rest. I haven't had one of those since I was pregnant with the first one.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Don't worry, it is perfectly normal. It's not so much the pregnancy that causes it, it's more of the being a Mom of a baby, lack of sleep and being destracted. Most people will understand if you tell them you have a Mommy brain. Just make sure you write down the important stuff on your calendar or on a particular note pad so you don't forget those. It will pass eventually. Best Wishes!

from http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/symptoms/a/placentabrains.htm:

"There are many theories of why this occurs in some pregnant women. One of the theories includes brain shrinkage. Saying that the brain shrinks 3-5% during pregnancy, which takes approximately six months after birth to return to normal. Or the theory that the problems are driven by hormones during pregnancy. While others believe that it is just a period of time where the mother-to-be is reflecting inward and the introspection and problem solving of the future is what causes the mental fuzziness."

Progesterone may also be the culprit. Your body is producing a lot of it right now and it causes us to feel very relaxed and dreamy, which leads to forgetfulness.

I'm just entering into the second trimester and can't figure out where I left my memory. It is normal enough to be forgetful during pregnancy. If it really bothers you talk to your doc about it too. They can healp reassure you too.

Happy pregnancy!

I had two little boys close together just like you and your body will adjust. I would talk to your OB too. Write down everything until you can talk to the OB and then you will have a back up system. Just think about how great it will be when your little ones are growing up so close together-you will get through this and look back and realize it was worth it. I was working two jobs 7 days a week when I was pregnant with my second son so that we could pay our mortgage on our existing home, land loan on the new one and the construction loan on the new one. It was hard, but now we have a wonderful much bigger home in the country and my boys are just turned 3 and 4. I stay home with them now which if you can-that is really the best thing with them so close in age. You will get through this and be fine-just relax and it will be ok!
K.
mother to Max-4 and Gabriel-3

While it is very common it is not normal. It has to do with the minerals in your body being drained from your system while pregnant. Since you have had two babies close in time, your body has put out alot of its resources. All these are grown/maintained by minerals. Pregnancy supplements provide vitamins not minerals.

I took one of my twins to see a nutritionist because his teeth were turning grey. The dentist told me they were getting rotten but you could tell they weren't because the enamel looked perfectly intact, just grey. So the nutritionist saw my son, said it was a mineral deficieny and gave him a liquid supplement he makes. Within one-two weeks his teeth were back to white and still are. Perfect shiny white teeth. That convinced me!

Here's his info if you are interested:
Richard C Michael
###-###-####
200 N Denning Dr # 5
Winter Park, FL 32789

I'm sure he will be able to help...
Good luck to you!

A.

With an 8 month old and being pregnant with another, I don't think it's that you're losing your mind; I think it's that your just too busy to remember what you were doing from one minute to the next. Give it a couple of years and you'll be back on your game!!

Honey,
You're pregnant and I swear those little things growing in there just eat up your brain cells! I had such a hard time through all three of my pregnancies--each one getting a little worse! All you can do is laugh at yourself and laugh along with everyone else. Be ditzy and enjoy it. I know it sounds denigrating, but fill your heart with joy and laughter and leave the serious stuff to your husband. You and your 8 month old will survive. You're not losing your mind. It comes back after you have the baby!

K.,

Welcome to motherhood! Yes, this is very normal. It will pass though. Just slow down, take your time with things, and make a conscious effort to pay attention to each thing that you do.
It will get better, I promise.

Take Care,
T.

Hi K.,

I agree with Ana. Although it is common, it is not normal. Your pre-natals must contain the right vitamins AND minerals and your body MUST absorb them. There are only a few pre-natals out there that will absorb efficiently.

Please let me know if you are interested in talking. I speak to groups on general nutrition along with other health issues and I can recommend some things for you if you're interested.

God bless and Congratulations on your second blessing!

M.

As much as it sucks, it is actually normal. When you're pregnant, the hormones make you forget things all the time. It's a proven scientific fact, although I can't remember the exact name, lol! That's why women say they have "Preggo Brain." And it actually takes 6 months AFTER the baby is born for your body to normalize. In your case, I would think you have such a bad case of it because you never got a chance for your hormones to balance out after the birth of your first child before gettng pregnant again. Should go away by next summer!

It's funny because almost all of us have been there... and it lingers in some well past toddler years.
I've decided to touch up my son's room paint, only to realize a couple brush strokes in that it's the wrong color. (It's still the wrong color on the wall)
I have to give myself time before leaving the house so that I can make a few trips around to see if I'm forgetting anything.
I pick up the phone, then forget who I was going to call and why. There are many "oops" moments in your recent and possible distant future. But that doesn't make you less of a fantastic woman. You'll get through it. And hopefully you'll have a sense of humor about it along the way. But you are definitely not alone on this one!

Unfortunately, this is normal. I hated it but it came with the joys of being pregnant so you learn to deal. Just make more time because it takes longer to do things since you are constantly trying to remember what you need, where you put something you need, etc.

The good news is that the majority of your memory does return after pregnancy.

Great advice from everyone! You're normal!
You will laugh at this in a few years! My friend had it BAD! I found her in the car crying - she forgot how to drive!
My kids are 21 and 18 - I still have to make lists! The only bad part is I can never remember where I put them.

You'll be fine. Congratulations on your family!

I am going through the same thing. It's like I have ADD--not to make a joke out of a serious condition but it's like my mind doesn't retain anything short term.
What I had to do was get as organized as possible which included buying a calendar to keep with me and marking things immediately and also a pencil case looking canvas pouch from Target that I keep my cell, keys, wallet, etc. so that it is easy to transfer between the diaper bag, purse, etc.
It's still a work in progress that has it's funny and not so funny moments. :)
Good luck!