7 Healthcast: Momnesia

There are two reasons Andi Silverman doesn't always remember things as well as she used to: 2-year-old Teddy and 3-year-old Nate.

"I'm always misplacing my keys; I'm always misplacing my cell phone. I've forgotten a doctor's appointment, I went on a road trip and I had no diapers. I've left my groceries at a supermarket," explains Silverman.

Experts say a new mother's brain has a potent brew of fluctuating hormones. Estrogen levels drop dramatically after pregnancy, while breast-feeding releases a hormone called Oxytocin.

"The mommy brain is under a deluge of both- new baby things, hormones, breast feeding and can be in a state of what we say is ‘Momnesia,'" said neuropsychiatrist Dr. Louannn Brizendine.

But author Katherine Ellison says motherhood can make you smarter.

"Over the long haul you're really strengthening these mental muscles that help you relate to other people you're being more motivated all these things are really really good skills," Ellison said.

Andi knows she's added a few more skills since motherhood.

"I really do feel like I have eyes in the back of my head," Silverman said.

And with two toddlers - she'll need them.

Another reason moms might be a little fuzzy won't surprise anyone- if baby isn't sleeping very much, then neither is mom. In fact, experts say the average new mom loses two hours of sleep a night. That translates to 700 hours lost in the first year of baby's life.

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