Momnesia: A Diagnosis for New Mothers

By Heather Roberts

I used to have the memory of an elephant. I could remember everything, important or unimportant. My family had always been amazed at the details I remembered from childhood. I could remember names, dates, birthday presents, phone numbers; you name it, I could remember it. But lately that’s all changed. When I’ve been asked a question I should know the answer to like, “What did you do yesterday?” I’ve felt like a bumbling fool when I’ve had to say, “I can’t remember.” I’ve checked the mailbox and wondered why it’s empty only to walk back inside and see the mail sitting on the coffee table. I’ve asked myself, “Did I brush my teeth today?” I’ve swiped my teeth with my tongue and discovered I must have, but I don’t remember doing it. I can’t count the times I’ve walked into a room and forgotten why I came. I’ve walked out the door without my keys and had to break into my own house through an open window.

As my memory lapses continued and got worse I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Maybe it’s some kind of chemical imbalance. I hope it’s not a brain tumor. Then I found my diagnosis on the news one night. I have Momnesia. Go ahead and laugh, but I’m not joking. It’s a real medical term. I found 22,000 results when I googled momnesia. Researchers have studied mothers of young children and found that they are markedly more forgetful than people without children. There are several factors that contribute to momnesia. First of all, the hormonal roller coaster moms are on after birth can leave your brain a little fuzzy. Then throw in some sleep deprivation. (Did you know that the average mom looses between 450-700 hours of sleep in baby’s first year?) And it’s no wonder we’re a little foggy.

Another factor is that our brains are on overload. We have to remember, focus on, and learn a lot of new information. We’re concerned about when baby ate last, how long he nursed or how many ounces he took. We’re sharpening our listening skills by trying to decode our baby’s cries. We have to keep track of how often they poop and pee. If you have older children you’re worried about remembering things for them too. Did you give them breakfast? Do they have gymnastics today?

Our brains are one of God’s most amazing creations. When you think about all your brain is going through when you have a baby at home, it’s no wonder some of the not-so-important things slip your mind. To make yourself feel like you have your act together, check out other moms’ worst momnesia moments on some of the many blogs on the subject. .So, until you start to regain some more brain, don’t hesitate to use the excuse, “I’ve got momnesia.”