Recent Family News
Is 'baby brain' a myth?
Many new parents attribute post-baby forgetfulness to lack of sleep, stress and hormones. In fact, according to The Herald, research has shown the brain shrinks by up to 5 percent in pregnancy and doesn't return to its normal size until six months after childbirth.But a new study suggests the so-called "momnesia" that many new mothers experience isn't a long-lasting phenomenon. Instead, they say that having a child can actually improve a woman's memory.
Researchers from Carlos Albizu University in Miami studied two groups of women - half with children aged 10 to 24 months and half who had never had children. While both groups scored similarly on intelligence tests, they found that the group with small children did better on memory tests.
"You don't have to feel that because you have kids, your memory isn't the same," said lead researcher Melissa Santiago.
While scientists admit that larger scale studies are needed to confirm the results, new moms can rest assured that any scatterbrained episodes are not permanent. Instead, they can focus on nurturing their little ones, choosing the best new or used baby gear or simply enjoying parenthood.

