| In my world, 'mommy brain' (forgetfulness, lack of | | | | as I did as a new mom - I couldn't remember things |
| concentration, and even feeling depressed) is a real | | | | (and didn't remember that I had forgotten something |
| phenomenon. I read an article in Time Magazine quoting | | | | for a week or two) and it was like things just vanished |
| a book written about 'Mommy Brain' which said that in | | | | from my brain. It was brutal. I'd write a list of what I had |
| neurological tests, women actually got smarter as a | | | | to do and then forget that I'd written it, or couldn't find |
| result of pregnancy and becoming a new parent and | | | | where I'd put it. One part of me was oblivious to my |
| that mommy brain wasn't a real issue. I can see where | | | | forgetfulness and the other was really worried. I |
| they are coming from in a way, the neuroscientists | | | | thought I'd fried my brain with trying to do and |
| found in the brains of pregnant rats, new neuron arms | | | | remember too much, while living on less sleep (just to |
| (dendrites and dendritic spines) which would indicate | | | | top it all off!). |
| increased mental capacity. (I wonder though how they | | | | So before taking myself off to the doc's to ask for an |
| measured the rat's ability to multi task at a whole new | | | | MRI of my brain, I treated myself like I'd treat a new |
| level as a new mom does!) However, I believe that this | | | | mom in one of my classes or consultations... |
| is one of those times when anecdotal evidence | | | | recommend for her to take DHA from fish oil. I hadn't |
| outweighs science. | | | | been having my smoothie in the morning so taking my |
| After meeting as many new moms each week, as I | | | | DHA daily had gone by the wayside as that's where I |
| do, they are all suffering in a similar way. Keys... where | | | | hide it (I've never been good at taking oil off a spoon). |
| are they? Ok got them, now where's my bag? Didn't I | | | | So I got out my cod liver oil and started adding a good |
| just put extra diapers in there? Oh and now I've | | | | two tbsp to my smoothie every morning. And wow, |
| forgotten the extra bib and my snack... this list goes on | | | | what a difference. Within two days, it was like |
| and on. | | | | someone turned the light back on in my brain. Later in |
| I believe that it negatively affects self-confidence, and | | | | the week, I started to remember much of what I'd |
| relationships with friends and partners. If you don't feel | | | | completely forgotten (and started the long list of |
| good about yourself, by doubting your capability to | | | | apologies to anyone else who this had affected). After |
| stay on top of what life demands, how are you going | | | | about four weeks, I slowed down my dose to about |
| to feel as a parent? I've met many women who have | | | | two teaspoons a day and was so thankful to have |
| successful careers, have managed teams of people | | | | my memory back. |
| or even run a large company - and now that she's had | | | | It was a worrying experience, but the positive outcome |
| a baby, her brain feels like it's turned to mush. | | | | is to keep re-enforcing to everyone that I meet how |
| I thought that I was out of the woods with this one, but | | | | important it is to eat oily fish (wild salmon, mackerel, |
| boy was I wrong. I'm not a new parent, my kids are six | | | | sardines or herring) or take a DHA supplement |
| and four years old. They go to different schools, have | | | | EVERY DAY. This is not only a phenomenon of new |
| different schedules that I need to keep up with. I run | | | | moms, but of kids - especially those suffering with |
| my own business, which brings it's own organization | | | | learning difficulties, ADD, or ADHD. Anyone (including |
| challenges and have recently launched my first book. | | | | men) suffering with depression, poor concentration or |
| It's been busy around Sprout Right headquarters of | | | | memory, heart conditions, a lack of physical endurance |
| late. And what happened in the midst of all this? My | | | | and even joint pain. |
| brain reverted back to those newborn days. I felt just | | | | |