Hailey Bieber’s latest TikTok is proof that ‘mom brain’ spares no one
Hailey Bieber just gave us the most relatable mom brain moment—because, honestly, who among us hasn’t lost something that was just in our hands?
The model and Rhode founder, 28, posted a TikTok on February 11 that was supposed to be a simple makeup tutorial—but quickly turned into a very real peek at the mental fog that comes with new motherhood.
Hailey’s ‘mom brain’ moment caught on camera
“Enjoy this 2 minutes of confusion and slight chaos,” she captioned the video, and she wasn’t kidding.
“Just gonna show what was on my cheeks and lips today if I can find what was just in my hand…” Hailey starts, before trailing off and frantically searching for the missing product. After a few seconds of digging around, she lets out an exasperated, “What the f—?” (Been there, Hailey.)
“This is actually tripping me out,” she says, still looking. “You know when something was just literally in your hand and then it disappears? I’m bugging out.” Cut to Hailey scanning the room before realizing the missing product was on the floor the whole time.
If this isn’t peak mom brain, we don’t know what is. But before we brush it off as forgetfulness, science suggests there’s more to it.
The science behind ‘mom brain’—it’s real (and actually a good thing!)
The term mom brain is often used to describe moments of mental fog, but research shows these cognitive changes are real—and even beneficial. A groundbreaking study, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveals that pregnancy and early motherhood trigger significant transformations in the brain, helping moms form deeper connections with their babies and prioritize caregiving.
The study used advanced imaging to track brain changes from preconception through postpartum and reveal significant shifts in both gray and white matter—key areas linked to emotional regulation, social connection, and maternal bonding. Gray matter pruning in regions like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala enhances efficiency, strengthening neural connections tied to empathy and caregiving. Meanwhile, increases in white matter integrity improve communication between brain regions, helping mothers interpret their baby’s cues more effectively.
These neurological adaptations heighten a mother’s responsiveness to her baby’s cries, facial expressions, and nonverbal signals, fostering a strong parent-child bond. Pregnancy hormones like estradiol and progesterone drive these structural changes, ensuring the brain is primed for caregiving long before birth. This research highlights that mom brain isn’t just real—it’s an essential transformation that equips mothers for the demands of parenthood.
Instead of viewing these moments as lapses, experts suggest they’re actually part of the brain’s natural adaptation to parenthood. In other words, while Hailey’s moment might feel like forgetfulness, it’s likely a sign of her brain fine-tuning itself for motherhood.
Related: Why ‘mom brain’ is actually a superpower
Moms everywhere relate: ‘This is actually me every day’
The comment section was fully in solidarity.
“This is actually mom brain me everyday,”
wrote @Myraaa, summing up what every mom watching was thinking.
“Mom brain is so real ,”
added @SofiaPeña.
And @Jocelyn welcomed Hailey to the club, commenting,
“Welcome to mom brain .”
Related: Science confirms that ‘mom brain’ is real
Did baby Jack make a surprise cameo?
Motherhood might be beautiful, but it’s also a never-ending cycle of forgetting where we put things while holding them in our hands.
And is it just us, or do we hear Jack Blues’ baby coos in the background toward the end? Too adorable.
Sources:
How a mother’s brain changes during pregnancy. Nature Neuroscience. 2023. “Neuroanatomical changes observed over the course of a human pregnancy.”
