They were talking about this on Countdown yesterday.
Forgetful new mothers can blame their loss of memory on the arrival of their children, according to scientists.
For generations, many new mothers have noticed small lapses of memory such as struggling with names, misplacing things or forgetting what they are looking for.
Now neuroscientists and psychiatrists have reported that rather than being merely an old wives' tale, the phenomenon of "mumnesia" is based on medical fact.
A combination of fatigue, hormonal changes and stress can all contribute to a loss of memory.
Louann Brizendine, a neuro- psychiatrist, said the condition could be blamed partly on new mothers focusing on the welfare of their baby to the exclusion of other things.
"New mothers are dedicated to serving that little infant, determined to keep him or her alive no matter what," she said. "That's their number one priority.
"Consequently less important matters get forgotten, or at least put into a less active area of the brain."
A certain degree of memory loss, allowing women to forget the pain of childbirth could also contribute.
Dr Sharon Phelan, a gynaecologist at the New Mexico School of Medicine, said: "If our memories didn't fade, we would never have sex again." Hormones, which can fluctuate during the course of pregnancy and birth, have also been linked to memory and recall.
Oestrogen levels drop sharply in late pregnancy to very low levels after childbirth. As well as playing a key role in fertility, the hormone also acts as a chemical messenger, sending signals to the brain.
Fatigue due to loss of sleep is another significant factor.
While both mother and father lose large amounts of sleep, the person with primary responsibility for the new child loses an average of between 450 and 700 hours during the first year, according to research.
The resultant fatigue can have a huge impact on memory.
Prof John Gabrieli, a neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: "Studies suggest people may replay events of the day in their minds while they sleep.
"When people don't sleep, or if their sleep is fragmented, events of the day may not be consolidated into long-term memories."
Forgetful new mothers can blame their loss of memory on the arrival of their children, according to scientists.
For generations, many new mothers have noticed small lapses of memory such as struggling with names, misplacing things or forgetting what they are looking for.
Now neuroscientists and psychiatrists have reported that rather than being merely an old wives' tale, the phenomenon of "mumnesia" is based on medical fact.
A combination of fatigue, hormonal changes and stress can all contribute to a loss of memory.
Louann Brizendine, a neuro- psychiatrist, said the condition could be blamed partly on new mothers focusing on the welfare of their baby to the exclusion of other things.
"New mothers are dedicated to serving that little infant, determined to keep him or her alive no matter what," she said. "That's their number one priority.
"Consequently less important matters get forgotten, or at least put into a less active area of the brain."
A certain degree of memory loss, allowing women to forget the pain of childbirth could also contribute.
Dr Sharon Phelan, a gynaecologist at the New Mexico School of Medicine, said: "If our memories didn't fade, we would never have sex again." Hormones, which can fluctuate during the course of pregnancy and birth, have also been linked to memory and recall.
Oestrogen levels drop sharply in late pregnancy to very low levels after childbirth. As well as playing a key role in fertility, the hormone also acts as a chemical messenger, sending signals to the brain.
Fatigue due to loss of sleep is another significant factor.
While both mother and father lose large amounts of sleep, the person with primary responsibility for the new child loses an average of between 450 and 700 hours during the first year, according to research.
The resultant fatigue can have a huge impact on memory.
Prof John Gabrieli, a neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: "Studies suggest people may replay events of the day in their minds while they sleep.
"When people don't sleep, or if their sleep is fragmented, events of the day may not be consolidated into long-term memories."
wow - I knew it was a lot but I am surprised at the figures. Definitely believe it. WOnder how many in the second year...LO is working hard to keep up her record. 
