Short term memory loss can affect women in the third trimester of their pregnancy. This manifests itself in such things as misplacing keys or eyeglasses, forgetting appointments, or suddenly losing your train of thought in the midst of performing a task. Short-term memory, or working memory, as it is also known, is the process by which we store most of the daily, generally transitory information we need to get through our daily routines. Researchers are unclear as to why women in the latter of their pregnancy have impaired short term memory but speculate that the working memory of pregnant women may be affected by a higher than normal volume of information as their minds attempt to adapt to the anticipated life changes and increased responsibility of caring for an infant.