Theo Paphitis from the Dragons' Den: 'Pregnant women's brains turn to mush'

[talilac]

Link here: here

Outrageously unreconstructed or reasonable point? Or both?

Given that he's not a neurologist, I'd suggest he can politely stuff himself. Can we not just set Xenia on him? Perhaps he needs to attend her weekend reprogramming course...

Obviously he would know all about mushy brains

Mine turned to mush.... infact it stil is [blush. Not for him to say though

he's not wrong

Mine certainly did..for about 12 months each time I think

I'm afraid that after 3 children, my brain has turned to mush. I used to be fairly intelligent but now feel I have nothing to contribute to any conversation other than about the children and even then I don't feel confident about that.

Obviously, he shouldn't speak for all pregnant women but in my case, it's true.

In seriousness, though - I did certainly stop finding work so important - the process of growing, giving birth to and raising a child puts some work issues in perspective and makes you realise that many things Just Don't Matter That Much...

He is wrong - I was proof-reading my dissertation hours before giving birth and took finals two weeks after. I got the expected excellent results (preen preen) - 'mushy' brains is a load of sexist crap designed to keep women of child-bearing age out of positions of influence. Now if you'll excuse me I must go do the school run before I forget.

I don't like that newspaper, but I appreciate the mocking tone of the article.

I'd argue the point about pregnancy but I've had a baby so sentence a structure cannot coherent I.

Its a shame he doesn't still own La Senza -he might not be so outspoken about matters if pissed-off women stopped shopping there .

I'm not saying that what he said is right or wrong but I don't feel hes qualified to make a sweeping statement like that

I think there's some truth in this bit

"They always argue that they'll be working until the day before, have the baby, go down to the river, wash it off, give it to the nanny and be back at work the following day, but sure enough, their brains turn to mush, and then after the birth the maternal instincts kick in, they take three months off, get it out of their system and are back to normal."

Might be truth in that their actions don't match their original plans, but the "brain turns to mush" bit is sexist claptrap.

My brain did! Definitely!

I'm afraid that after 3 children, my brain has turned to mush. I used to be fairly intelligent but now feel I have nothing to contribute to any conversation other than about the children and even then I don't feel confident about that.

Cadbury - you could have written that about me too

I don't think womens brains turn to mush rather that they refocus, what was once important is no longer as we have a beautiful newborn who needs all our attention, nature is very clever, she reprogrammes our brains so all that matters is that little screaming bundle and taking care of it. Of course through time as the baby becomes more independent (hopefully fingers crossed) our brains come back to us.

ahh but tortoise - you're an organist - and I think that's part of us being random and strange

northernlurker i am v impressed at yr dissertation and exam.

i think he has a point, although mush is pushing it. afterwards, total mush for me. he wouldn't have wanted me working for him 3 months post partum (or come to think of it ever, but that's a different point!)

cadbury, add me in there as well.

not sure about "vulgar little spiv" though.

Hm, I certainly didn't earn my salary when I was pregnant. I am rubbish at being pregnant, and drag myself from day to day in a state of complete exhaustion. The whole "second trimester and feeling great!" thing passes me by completely.
A couple of days after giving birth though, and I was proofreading DH's essays (for content as well as technical errors) and doing a fine job, even if I do say so myself.

A businessman who says it's 'barking' to suggest that 50 per cent of jobs should go to women has a surprisingly poor grasp of maths. And talks about a 'little housewife'.

Sexist throwback. Don't think he'd appreciate it if someone suggested all Cypriots were , would he?

I think while his overall tone is deeply irritating, he does have a slight point in that I really wasn't interested in work straight after having a baby. Not because pregnancy turned my brain to mush, but because of sleep deprivation and the incredibly steep learning curve of a new baby..

I agree with Geordie though - its not for him to say. Because thats why we have the right to maternity leave in this country!

I managed to work in an extremely high pressured and technical role while pg, but I did have moments of absent mindedness. I just had to become that much more organised, and wrote down everything I had to do if I couldn't do it straight away.
I think a lot of was to due to periods of sleeplessness that made me tired during the day.

There is a valid medical reason your brains turn to mush during pregnancy - the body can't create braincells from scratch therefore you have to donate some of your own to the growing baby.

Seriously though, isn't it a medical fact that the brain does shrink in pregnancy but returns to normal?

"Hm, I certainly didn't earn my salary when I was pregnant."

Oh lord, neither did I. The best bit was that they were paying me a large retention bonus for every fortnight I stayed on past a certain time. I sure as hell wasn't worth that!!