The Postpartum Chapter They Quietly Skipped Over

I like to joke that my postpartum experience with the twins was “a lot,” but honestly, that doesn’t even scratch the surface. A vaginal birth with Twin A, a C-section with Twin B, a delayed postpartum hemorrhage, and a crash course in postpartum anxiety and OCD — it was the kind of initiation into motherhood that changes your brain chemistry in ways you don’t fully understand until much, much later.

So with my third baby (who somehow turns one next week!), I thought I might finally get a simpler recovery. And in many ways, I did. No spiraling anxiety, no medical emergencies. I felt strangely… okay.

Until postpartum brain fog showed up.

And not the occasional forgetfulness; the kind where focus feels slippery, words disappear, and everyday tasks require more way effort than they should. As someone with ADHD, I’m no stranger to misplaced thoughts, but this was different. My usual quirks suddenly had layers I couldn’t explain.

The science actually does explain it, though. After birth, estrogen and progesterone levels drop rapidly, and both hormones influence cognition and mood regulation. Sleep fragmentation disrupts the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for planning, memory, and attention. And pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding can deplete nutrients like DHA, choline, B vitamins, and iron, all of which support neurotransmitter function and mental clarity. Research even shows measurable changes in processing speed and working memory in the months after giving birth. 

That’s why I started Needed’s Cognitive Support. It’s built around nutrients and botanicals that actually support cognition postpartum, especially when you’re dealing with hormone shifts, sleep loss, and, in my case, ADHD. It includes Alpha-GPC, a bioavailable choline source for memory and attention; Sensoril® ashwagandha to help regulate stress when sleep is fragmented; Bacopa monnieri to support memory and processing; CognatiQ® coffee fruit extract, a stimulant-free ingredient shown to support cognitive performance; and phosphatidylserine, which helps maintain healthy brain cell function. For me, it hasn’t been a dramatic before-and-after — just a steadier, more accessible version of my brain on the days I need it most.

If you're in the thick of it, remember this: postpartum brain fog is real, it’s common, and it does lift... even if you need a little bit of help to get there.