Memory in pregnancy. II: Implicit, incidental, explicit, semantic, short-term working and prospective memory in primigravid, multigravid acid postpartum women

This study using an information processing model of memory, made a detailed examination of the possible locus (loci) of any memory change in gravid an d postpartum women using a battery of seven objective memory tests: implici t, incidental, explicit, semantic, short-term, working, and prospective mem ory. In addition, links were sought bath between (a) self-reported data on sleep, health, and memory performance, and (b) these variables and objectiv e memory performance. Five groups of women were tested (n = 22/23 per group ), (1) primigravid, (2) multigravid, (3) postpartum, (4) nonpregnant parent s with children, and (5) never been pregnant, an self-report and objective memory tests. The gravid and portpartum groups reported significantly more everyday forgetting than the non-pregnant groups but on the objective tests performed no differently from the non-pregnant groups on all tests. Sleep loss was a significant predictor of reported memory change, but not of any memory test performance, and may contribute to a perceived memory change. P regnant women and new mothers generally should be confident of performing t o their normal cognitive capabilities, but may be more affected than usual by a high cognitive load.