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Original poster

Did anyone have severe brain fog when they had a baby?

13 replies

NinjagoBore · 27/10/2018 15:36

I've just had a baby, 7 months ago and she sleeps really really badly. She wakes up every 45 minutes to an hour.

I feel like my brain is completely mashed. I can't think straight. Making conversation with my friendly neighbour is such hard work. I literally stop mid sentence and can't be bothered speaking. Luckily she talks over me and I barely get a word in edgeways anyway!

I told the kids I'd book them some tickets to somewhere they'd wanted to go and forgot and now the tickets have all sold out.

I struggle planning my week, writing the shopping list, thinking of meal ideas, organising the kids activities.

I just find thinking hard work. My cognitive function is declining. My brain feels foggy and slow and tired.

When will this end. I'm worried about the long-term effects it's going to have on me. I know the broken sleep is partially responsible for this but I don't remember being this bad with my older children.

Has anyone else experienced similar?

OP posts:
Ceilingrose · 27/10/2018 16:08

Don't worry. It has always happened to me. I couldn't even remember a short chapter of a book by the end of it. It always comes back. I think it's your body's was of temporarily making you focus on the critical-the baby!

kaytee87 · 27/10/2018 16:11

It's exhaustion. Do you have a partner that can do half the night awakenings?

Ohyesiam · 27/10/2018 16:12

Yes, totally. And now they are teen / preteen and I have foggy menopause brain.
It will get better, it’s mostly about sleep deprivation, the life change of your time not being your own, and how everythingon your life runs around food, pooing and dressing.i used to call it Neanderthal brain.

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Whatamuddleduck · 27/10/2018 16:48

I have a 6 month old. My brain is mush. Seems normal!

Original poster
NinjagoBore · 27/10/2018 16:56

Thanks for your replies. I was just worried as I don't remember being this bad with the other two but then again I had a lot less on my plate then too and we were free to wake up whenever we wanted when they were little as no school mornings to wake up for.

Whatamuddleduck how often does your baby wake?

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 27/10/2018 16:57

I was ok after first but after having Ds my brain turned to mush.

I once went to make myself a cup of coffee and forgot how to.

It was then I discovered they don’t give instructions on the side of the coffee jar.

I had to call friend to tell me over the phone. It truly felt like I had never done anything like it before.

I got in the car and forgot how to drive. The same thing happened when my car stalled in the middle of the road and I had loads of cars beeping me but my mind went blank.

It took 2 years for me to come out of the fog.

PrimeraVez · 27/10/2018 17:13

I had this after DS1 was born and for me it was a symptom of an under active thyroid. Could be worth checking out?

Whatamuddleduck · 27/10/2018 19:16

She wakes twice on a good night, occasionally once and on one occasion slept 7-7!
Recently she has been ill and woke up every 45 mins unless in my arm put.
Last night she went to bed at 7 and woke at 11:30, 3:30, 4:48,5:30 and then napped again at 7.
Varies but I go to bed when she does!

SeaEagleFeather · 28/10/2018 13:48

yep, took me 7 or 8 times to punch in a phone number. Forgot everything, dropped everything, ended up pranging the car. It was exhaustion; insomnia + small baby.

Eventually I got off-label non-addictive sleeping tablets. Hate hate taking them, but they got me to a more-or-less functioning level. Because they are weak, I still wake if one of the children needs attention in the night.

Oliversmumsarmy · 28/10/2018 13:56

I have insomnia now and I am forgetful when I am tired but this was more akin to having dementia.

Just having blank spaces when you have to do something. Not only not being able to do simple tasks but having absolutely no recollection when told what to do.

Searching the kettle for the on switch felt like I had never seen a kettle before.

No familiarity with things

SeaEagleFeather · 28/10/2018 13:59

yep, that's exactly what it was like. Mindblank and living in a fog. Horrendous and really frightening.

It's better now that I'm getting a bit better sleep. Getting fit helped and losing some weight woudl help even more. But I couldn't get fit until there was at least enough sleep to minimally function.

mmmammma · 28/10/2018 14:32

I have a 21 month old and still have brain fog! He sleeps very poorly, so I think the sleep deprivation is to blame (I’m often awake from 2/3am as he wakes so frequently) Back at work part time and massively struggling, forget to do loads of things and worried that I’m ruining my professional reputation. Thought it’d be better by now... sigh...

fussychica · 28/10/2018 18:20

Yep. I used to say he stole my brainGrin

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