"Momnesia" Is Not Just in Your Head

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

When my first daughter was born, I wrote a check for fourteen hundred dollars. The problem was that the amount due was fourteen dollars. The company very kindly called me, and to my embarrassment I found myself saying, "I'm sorry, I just had a baby." While I'm sure I made the office bulletin board of loopy customers, it turns out that there's something to this loopyness that we moms get after we have babies.

Personally, I've always blamed the sleep deprivation. I am one of those people that needs at least a solid nine hours of sleep per night. I get sick more easily if I have less sleep, I forget things when I have less sleep; in short, I just don't function as well. As it turns out, it may not be sleep deprivation that is causing momnesia, but instead just what your brain does to help you be a hypervigilant parent.

Possible Causes of Momnesia

Neuropsychologists have suggested that whenever you're learning a lot of new information, the part of your brain that needs to do the learning becomes sharper, while all the other parts play second fiddle. In moms, we become hyper vigilant to make sure our babies are comfortable, happy and healthy--and all the other stuff fades into the background.

Estrogen also plays a roll in the 'momnesia' phenomenon. While estrogen is at an all time high right before birth, it drops dramatically after birth. Estrogen serves as a neurotransmitter. It's theorized that the drop in estrogen may well serve the purpose of helping us moms forget our traumatic child birth experiences--and be willing to subject ourselves to it again.

Nursing too, releases hormones that promote a feeling of relaxed calmness, may play a role in the momnesia phenomenon. Some mothers report feeling much more mentally sharp after weaning.

Personally, I still blame sleep deprivation on my serious lack of brain cells. Next week, my oldest daughter will turn 9. That is 9 years of sleep deprivation, waking up at all hours of the night to care for little children. I can't believe that hasn't killed off at least a few thousand brain cells!

Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, solves breastfeeding problems, shares parenting tips, and current research in the baby blog, and insight, resources and ideas as a regular guest blogger in the homeschooling blog. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.

Recent Baby Blogs:

Can I Still Breastfeed If My Baby is Lactose Intolerant?

Lactose Intolerance, Reflux and Breastfeeding

Can a Baby Be Allergic to Breastmilk?

Can Too Much Exercise Make Your Milk Sour?

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Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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