The terrible case of the second time baby brain

Baby brain; does it exist? And is there such a thing as second time baby brain, when it’s twice as bad as it was with your first child? For your consideration, here’s everything I’ve forgotten about baby brain, again.

There is ongoing debate over the actual existence of baby brain, and I’ve even read that it’s a concept that exists to pigeonhole women into diminutive stereotypes of ditsyness and so on and…what was I saying?

The warning signs were there during this pregnancy (especially when I left all my shopping on the checkout and nearly turned up at an appointment a month early).

But now the baby’s actually here…? I forget things. Mainly the end of sentences and often my name. The kettle is boiled for multiple drinks that don’t get made. I stand in rooms confused about why I’m there. The usual (?) things then, but it does somehow seem a LOT worse this time.

Let’s look at closer look at the evidence:

Example 1: Taking an embarrassingly, noticeably long time to recognise our plumber when he came to look at our boiler. Then introducing him to Florence, before realising he’d spent a day at our house replacing radiators, shortly after she was born.

Example 2: Phoning my dad to wish him a happy birthday and then forgetting to wish him a happy birthday. Bearing in mind this is my dad, a man I’ve known for all the years of my life, who has had a birthday on each one of them on exactly the same date.

Example 3: Phoning the bank to report a fraudulent transaction on my account. “It looks like some sort of hotel booking…sound familiar?” they asked me. “Haha NO way, I’ve just had a baby!” I laughed. After twenty minutes of security questions and detailed research, the guy confirmed that yes, it was a hotel booking. And only then I remembered that I’d made one two days before for my parents.

So what’s the verdict; have I been cursed with a case of the second time baby brain?

I can’t be sure but I think it’s probably a combination of hormones, tiredness, and this time the utter relentlessness of two children, meaning there’s no space in my head for any rational thought. So until I get a bit more sleep, or time, I’ll just have to stick to my detailed ‘to do’ lists.

Eliza’s current favourite programme is Topsy and Tim. Which is appropriate, because right at the very end Topsy asks, with her accusatory verbal fingerjab “Are you good at remembering?” This new mum of two stares at the screen blankly. No, Topsy, we can safely assume I’m not. And what’s the name of your twin again?

So these are my sorry stories; please tell me yours…