Pregnancy Brain: Is it real and what can I do about it?

According to the Journal of Neuroscience it’s a real condition!

The hormonal fluctuations that occur during pregnancy create structural patterns in a woman’s brain. For first-time moms, many of these alterations will remain in place for at least 2 years after giving birth.  A lot of these changes are linked to a mother’s ability to care for her baby.  Research explains that evolution sculpted a woman’s brain to ensure her baby could thrive. For example, a mother can often instinctively identify her baby’s needs and feelings.

Although I’m in my ninth month of pregnancy and have experienced pregnancy brain first hand, I find it fascinating to learn that it isn’t just a myth! Just this morning it took me an hour to find my keys, which I eventually located in my food pantry. So how do we help those affected by pregnancy brain moving forward? Is there anything that can be done about it? Here are a few tips to help “get around pregnancy brain”.