A 2018 Medical Journal of Australia meta-analysis pooled 20 studies with 709 pregnant and 521 non-pregnant women. Pregnant women’s general cognitive functioning, memory and executive functions (planning, controlling attention) were slightly poorer. Attention did not differ significantly.
When it is most noticeable
When different women were compared, the differences were significant only in the third trimester. The authors stress that pregnant women’s results remained within the normal range, so the likely consequence is small episodes of forgetfulness rather than serious difficulties.
What this means for you
- Forgetfulness during pregnancy is common and is not a reason to worry.
- Notes, phone reminders and fewer tasks at once help.
- It is linked to the brain’s adaptation to motherhood, which we wrote about in “Pregnancy remodels the brain”.
Sources
- Davies S. J., Lum J. A. G., Skouteris H., Byrne L. K., Hayden M. J. (2018). Cognitive impairment during pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Medical Journal of Australia, 208(1), 35–40. doi:10.5694/mja17.00131