Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Baby Brain


I've been doing some research on "Baby Brain" in a feeble attempt to justify some of my odd behaviour following the birth of all of my children.

It has been a disturbing exercise because the experts now say that "Baby Brain" is generally just a myth. Well I beg to differ. I have performed Random Acts of Stupidity ("RAS") following the birth of every single one of my children and these RAS's have never been repeated outside those times. RAS are to be differentiated from what I would call normal lapses of memory like searching for the car keys when you are in fact holding them in your hand or forgetting whether you had already washed your hair with Shampoo so you end up washing it twice. Or is that just me?

RAS 1 - I made a cheesecake and drove it to my friends house for afternoon tea. Upon arrival I searched high and low for the cheesecake. I found it on the roof of the car. It was still in one piece.

RAS 2 - I filled the car up with petrol and realised I left my purse at home. Luckily the attendant knew where I lived so I was allowed to ring through my details when I got home. After this embarrassing mishap, instead of going home I just continued on as planned to the grocery store where I spent an hour filling up my trolley. D'oh! You can see where this is going can't you?

RAS 3 - I started tapping my fingers on the kitchen bench one morning waiting for the toaster to pop. Why was it taking so long? It appears I forgot to put the bread in. With this one I actually had the audacity to ask if the Kids already took the bread out of the Toaster  - cue the looks of 4 frightened children as Mum has officially gone mad.

Well I managed to find one piece of research that at least reinforced that any forgetfulness is most likely the result of the mind being completely focussed on the new baby to the exclusion of other things. Comforting. At least my priorities were firmly in the right place. 

But this doesn't help me for my final RAS which happened the week before last when I dropped the boys off at Kinder and passed the baby over to the Teacher for a cuddle. I then kissed the boys good-bye and walked out of the classroom to where my pram was waiting. I started to push the pram, and then promptly returned to the classroom to collect my baby.

Anyone else suffer from the odd RAS?

64 comments :

  1. Oh fantastic! Thanks for the laugh! I don't have any I could confess to publicly..... will keep thinking though :-)

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  2. Trying to shove the dummy in the mouth of one of the older children when the baby is crying. i've done that more than once!


    rachel xo

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    1. That's so funny Rachel, I'm pretty sure I did that more than a few times with the twins - popped the dummy when it was the other one crying x

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  3. I'm always doing silly things even w/o "baby brain" (which entertain my family immensely). When my son was little he would often creep into my room at night after a bad dream and he couldn't sleep. I have very poor hearing and wear a hearing aid, but whenever he walked into the room I would wake from deep sleep instantly and hold out my hand to him as he came up beside the bed. It wasn't just one or two times, he did this a lot. I honestly believe it's a bond that I had for him that I just sensed he was there (I wouldn't have been able to hear him). I was telling him about this recently and he found it curious as well. He said "I can't wait to be a mom!!" (he's 15) Wendy

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    1. That's a bit cute Wendy! If only waving the hand out from the bed worked with babies :-)

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  4. Thanks for the giggle Mel. You have some serious baby brain ;-)

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  5. Oh my goodness, I absolutely did. My youngest is almost five and I think I'm just coming out of it now. Sometimes I think I also had "lactation brain" because it went on so badly after the births. :)

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    1. Yes, things tend to settle down for me after I've finished breastfeeding too :-)

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  6. Oh Mel that's given me the chuckles! My 'acts' are sadly far too frequent to be random but after twenty years of being a mum I haven't managed to forget the kids - YET! Jane x

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  7. Mine is more of the "where are my keys" and "what did I do with my wallet" variety. Tell me, did the research suggest the mind ever fully recovers?

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    1. I'm always 'losing' my keys and wallet. Apparently the brain actually gets bigger as a result of Motherhood! I'm not so sure about that myself, I definitely don't feel as sharp as a used to :-)

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  8. I honestly tried to start my car with a banana once!!! Kept ramming it at the ignition wondering why the ar would not start and did not stop til the banana skin split and mushy banana went everywhere.

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  9. I've done that last one Mel! Left the baby in her car seat with a 6 year pupil looking at her - delivered 2 other boys to their classes then walked to my car. A teacher came running after me to ask if I'd left something behind, it took me a few moments to realise I'd left the baby! - Just remember you're not alone, we're all a little bit mad!

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  10. Yep. Baby Brain definitely exists. When I had one child and we returned to the car after an outing, I was in the habit of counting "one, two" to make sure I had both child and the dog. After I had child number two, I would still count "one, two"..and frequently left the poor dog behind...

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    1. Hi Minerva, thanks for the laugh. Poor pup s- our Whippet would sympathise - he also often gets forgotten about. Mel x

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  11. This is brilliant Mel.. Having a good old giggle, thank you. I tend to say stupid things - I forget words for things. Mr H thinks I'm going mad. He often sits there shaking his head as I blurt out my muddled words xo

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  12. I think we have all been quilty of something along these lines - thanks for sharing though Mel. I think the kinder teacher might have been quite happy to be left holding the baby! cheers Wendy

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    1. Yes, I think you're right there. It was actually the Teachers Aide who works with the Teacher in the Kinder room - she loves babies!

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  13. So funny Mel!!! All of your RAS are a classic! Problem is a think i suffered from this well before having children! I was once getting ready to go to uni, packed my bag, out it in the back seat....jumped in the passenger seat of the car and just sat there....hmmm....who was going to drive me to uni??? yes....totally embarrassing! When the kids were little my husband would find things in all unusual places...like milk in the microwave! yes, explain that one! xx

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    1. Haha! Yes, I forgot to mention I found the container of rolled oats in the door of the fridge recently. At least I knew the milk would be in the pantry then :-)

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  14. I think I must drive too fast ... no way would anything I left on the roof of the car still be there even five minutes later!

    I'm struggling to remember any RAS of my own, which probably just means I'm getting forgetful. Mind you, I can remember rather a lot of the Mr's RAS, he does rather make a habit of them. And he really can't blame baby brain!

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    1. I think there is definitely another 'thing' that men have, like when you give them a list of 5 things to pick up from the Supermarket and they only bring home the last item you mentioned..:-)

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  15. hee hee, oh mel. i think it is more like rafbgf: random acts of forgetfulness because of great fatigue. and if i weren't so sleepy right now (it's after midnight) i could think up many i am guilty of. IF i can remember, i'll be back tomorrow to report. and that photo is so pretty.

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    1. sleep deprivation has a lot to answer for doesn't it!?

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  16. This made me giggle as I would need all day to sit here and type just how this has affected me, from milk in the washing machine, instead of fridge (yes it did spill). Looked for the car keys for hours and finally gave up to make a brew to find them in the fridge and and and. Oh it is certainly far from a myth. Love Love Love this photo! xoxo

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    1. Milk in the washing machine - so funny! You've made me feel so much better x

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  17. These gave me a little giggle. I know baby brain all too well and despite lack of research, I firmly believe it is a "thing".

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    1. It definitely is a 'thing'. The fact that there is so much 'research' tells me that it has to be a thing, whether it's sleep deprivation or something else. x

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  18. Thanks for the chuckle. I think someone needs to research 'teenage brain' as well ... Where you are so overwhelmed with so many things to think of that you do similarly forgetful things ...

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    1. I have no doubt there is a 'thing' for Teenagers too!

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  19. I am sure I have had many RAS, but I am too tired to remember :)

    I kind of miss that soft-focus few months when caring for a newborn.

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    1. Amidst the fogginess, it really is a blissful stage :-)

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  20. You had time to make a cheesecake with a baby in the house? You're awesome! The good thing here in Austin is you have to pay before you pump so no one knows if you forgot your purse :)
    AND what do the experts know anyway? Most of them are men that never carried a child in their wombs! Lack of sleep and taking care of children will give anyone baby brain! Its official... its real!! We just made it so!
    Tammy x

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    1. Hi Tammy, the cheesecake was made when I only had one little baby and it has not been made since :-) And you're a Texan! My Mum's Texan and my Grandma and other relatives are over there. Mel x

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  21. LOL ... this is priceless ... I hope the RAS passes for you ... though if it hangs around long term life certainly won't be boring :0)

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  22. How long do you think the RAS can go on for after the birth? Is five years pushing it? I swear I still have baby brain... x

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  23. Bahaha oh that last one made me laugh! I am still doing random acts of stupidity and Imogen is 9 months. I don't think baby brain ever leaves. I'm a firm believe that when you give birth the baby takes a chunk of your brain cells with them. I am forever losing things that are right beside me. Honestly somedays I don't know how I've gotten through the day!

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  24. Oh this made me LAUGH!

    Baby brain is SO a thing! I've tried to give the toddler a dummy when the baby has been crying, put the keys in the fridge and the milk on the shelf, spent half an hour dealing out that I couldn't find my four year old then remembered he was at kinder!

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  25. Thank for the laugh! And I have to commend you on your great driving since the cheesecake was still on your roof when you reached your destination! That's a pretty amazing effort.

    And yes, Baby Brain is totally a thing!

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  26. Classic! You are not alone! One of the kinder mum's this week left her toddler in the park for a good 10 mins before realising he wasn't with her. Just too many balls in the air I think! Cheers, Mez visiting via Maxabella's weekend rewind

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  27. Can one suffer from RAS if they don't have a baby? I think you have enough evidence to prove Baby Brain isn't a myth. I was particularly amused by RAS 3. Xx

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  28. RAS is my middle name! Those "experts" don't know what they're talking about, baby brain exists and in fact continues on well after babyhood, it should just be called "parent brain". I myself can attest as can many of my parent friends! So many RAS's in my repertoire. I'd share some with you, but my parent brain is so bad I forgot what they were. Visiting via the Rewind :)

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  29. I still have it and my youngest is 5 ... I think I'm in trouble.

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  30. Ahh yes I most certainly did with my oldest definitely not a myth at all. You always make me smile with the way you write Mel, you really have a gift:) And yes I do know a certain someone in my house who forgets whether they have washed their hair or body and asks me whether I can remember:) I can't believe that cheesecake made it all the way to your friends in one piece, such a classic. xx

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  31. How can anyone possibly imagine it's a myth? Of ourselves it's real... I still have it!

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  32. Very funny Mel. I'm certain it's no myth but how long does it last..my baby is 4 but I still suffer dreadfully. Great writing too btw, you have a way with words.

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  33. Mel, that made me laugh so much, thank you! My worst (so far anyway) was getting my son all swaddled up in a million pieces of weather-appropriate gear ready to do a mums-and-babies outdoor buggy fit class, and then being turned away by the trainer because I was still wearing my slippers... Embarrassing is not the word. Now my concern is that 3ys on I'm struggling to attribute it to baby brain - help!

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  34. Oh Mel that's so funny! Yes, it happens to me far too often. I can be distracted and absent minded to the point of ridiculous. And I last gave birth four years ago so I can't really blame baby brain anymore. I am frequently doing things like putting the car keys in the cutlery drawer. I can never, EVER, remember where I put down the lens cap from the camera and it's always in the back pocket of my jeans. Loved reading everyone else's responses here too. xx

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  35. Too funny... and too true, I for sure think baby brain exists... how couldn't it when one is lack of sleep befuddled??

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  36. After the birth of my second I did things I have never done before.

    I got petrol when I didn't have my handbag - money - with me!
    I paid for my groceries and then just walked home with the pram and left them all there, not once, but twice in the same week. My husband went down to get them for us and the lovely people had put them all in a big fridge hoping I would return.

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  37. Ha Ha, that's hilarious. I put my kids in the car once and drove away, only to realise 8 hours later when we went out again and I needed the pram that I must have forgot to load it in the car earlier, it's the last time I recall seeing it. Arrrh. I lodged and insurance claim, it was was quite embarrassing telling them what happened. 'oh you know, I just drove away'.

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  38. Oh Mel your last RAS had me laugh out loud. I think all mums have had our fair share of RAS's. if I start to share mine I won't know where to stop,

    Thanks for popping by my blog and saying hello and following. You live in such a beautiful area, your pictures are stunning.

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  39. Too funny! I just walked around in a hazy state for the 9 months of pregnancy and the 9 months thereafter! Cheers, Alison

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  40. I don't remember any of mine, but yours gave me a great laugh. Thank you!

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  41. Hilarious Mel! You had me in stitches. I can't believe your cheesecake was intact!! :) I definitely suffered from baby brain with both my girls although I can't think of any specific examples right now...

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  42. Ha!!! I can't believe you still had your cheesecake. I came out from the doctors last year and left my purse on the roof of the car. I got a phone call shortly afterwards to say that dozens of cards and bits of paper were flying all over the road. This week, my husband caught me absent-mindedly putting a tub of cheese alongside the wine glasses in the cupboard. If nothing else, it's great laughing fodder!!!

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  43. You are hilarious, Mel. And I can just picture you doing them all! Love you and your honesty. J x

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  44. Love it, love them all Mel. Yes to baby brain every time. Scatty would be a kind description at best for me. I think after my first I was the worst though...half way through a conversation and my brain would just drop out. Not a question of me not concentrating but me completely forgetting what I was talking about mid sentence. How does that happen?? I'm mid sentence?!

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