The Truth About “Mom Brain”: Executive Functioning and the Unique Impact on Mothers

Guest BlogADHD and Executive Functioning

Feb 27

There is no other experience that is more cognitively demanding than the shift to motherhood. And we’re not even talking about the cognitive effects of the sleepless newborn nights! No, these cognitive shifts start early in pregnancy and are long-lasting, even permanent.

Hormone spikes. Structural brain changes. Increased emotional processing.

These changes leave moms with increased emotional sensitivity, heightened threat detection, stronger attachment bonding, and a decrease in gray matter volume. All these changes are by design, increasing the brain’s pathways and signals that relate to infant bonding, attachment and care.

What we don’t talk about is the initial cost of these changes to a very specific and important part of our brain. Studies show that physical changes to a mother’s brain during pregnancy include a decrease in gray matter volume to our pre-frontal cortex, a part of our brain with a lot of responsibilities. So many responsibilities, in fact, that it’s often referred to as our brain’s CEO.

Impulse control. Working memory. Decision making. Planning and prioritization. Time management. Organization. Metacognition.

Together, these skills are known as executive functions. Executive functioning (EF) involves skills that we need in order to identify and accomplish goals or develop solutions to a problem. It also includes related skills to support and guide our actions, including emotional regulation, sustained attention, task initiation, cognitive flexibility and persistence.

So, TL;DR….

The part of our brain that controls our executive functions is the same part that is completely restructured during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

Seriously, read that again. Consider what that really means for moms. Consider what that means for neurodiverse moms who already experience challenges related to executive dysfunction.

Here’s the toughest part - no one talks about these changes. Most moms report that they never knew about the changes to their brain during pregnancy; it was never discussed during prenatal appointments, birthing classes, or in parenting books. Too often, mothers who struggle with these cognitive shifts have their needs brushed aside instead of supported. We hear off-handed jokes about “mom brains” and shrug our shoulders at the inevitability of dysfunction. It doesn’t have to be this way. It shouldn’t be this way.

“Mom brains” aren’t broken.

Whether you’re a new mom or years out of the newborn trenches, your brain has undergone significant structural changes to care for your babies. Symptoms like forgetfulness, distractibility, brain fog, and decision fatigue are completely normal and can affect everyone differently.

Everyone experiences periods of “high” EF days and “low” EF days.

Everyone experiences strengths and weaknesses related to specific EF skills

Everyone can learn and develop these skills to create systems that actually work for you.

If you feel like you’re struggling with periods of executive dysfunction, you’re not alone. And if executive dysfunction is significantly impacting your daily life, reach out to your doctor, therapist, or other trusted health care professional to consider whether additional evaluation and treatment is right for you.

About the Author: Natalie is a licensed School Psychologist and mother of two who shares relatable and educational content on TikTok and Instagram, highlighting the intersection between motherhood and executive functioning skills. Known in particular for her content related to automating everyday tasks in order to minimize the mental load of motherhood, Natalie finds passion in supporting moms and shifting the outdated “mom brain” narrative. She advocates for maternal mental health, paid leave, and inclusive practices for all types of brains. Find her at @reclaimthemombrain across all platforms.