The Self-Help Guide to Baby Brain

You get it when you’re pregnant and I can almost guarantee you it won’t ever go away. Baby brain.

For me, the most extreme case of it was when I was pregnant and I put the kettle in the fridge after making tea. More recently, I’ve walked halfway to my mums to find I didn’t grab the changing bag. There was also this one time I tried to hand S the baby but there was no baby in my arms and was therefore cradling nothing – I think that was linked more to sleep deprivation.

To help me (somewhat) combat baby/mum brain here are a few things I now do on a regular basis.

Write lists: I cannot get enough of these. Paper, the blackboard in the kitchen, even the notes section on my phone – there are lists for lists. Shopping, housework, even where I have to go in a day are all written down.

Plan ahead: S knows it’s no good springing something on me that needs doing last minute. I won’t remember. So now we have to make sure either a) she asks me a week in advance, or b) she tells me that morning and then sends me a reminder text that day. I also make use of the family calendar/planner to write… Everything… Down.

Set alarms: Like said lists, there are several alarms on my phone reminding me to do something, not to mention apps that note things down for me, like when T last fed, what his nappy looked like, what boob I used last. It’s all written down.

Talk about your day: It’s so easy, especially whilst on maternity leave, for days to blend into one. Talking about your day, no matter how dull it may have been, will help differentiate the days from each other.

Don’ overdo it: If you all know me well enough by now, you know that I rarely just chill out and sit down. I have to do something in my ‘spare’ time. Now, however, I’m learning not to over do it otherwise I run the risk of forgetting something. I burnt the steamer the other day by letting it burn dry, all because I thought I’d be able to steam some veg and also ‘quickly’ change T – but this then turned into a poonami and full clothing change. Awesome (!).

Baby brain is no laughing matter (it’s hilarious). If you know someone with baby brain, love and support them… They’ll get through it… Hopefully. If they don’t, get used to burnt dinners, late pick ups, and someone who thinks it’s still Tuesday when it’s Thursday.

K