Matrescence

You may have heard that the postpartum period lasts about 6–8 weeks. But there’s something much bigger happening during that time—and it has a name.

It’s called matrescence 💛

Matrescence is the process of becoming a mother. It’s not just about your body healing after birth. It’s a full transformation—in fact, experts say it is as big of a life change as adolescence. Why? Because it involves changes across your physical, emotional, and mental states over a long period of time.

🌱 What is matrescence?
Matrescence is the process of becoming a mother. The term was first introduced in the 1970s and later expanded by researcher Aurélie M. Athan.

It describes a full-life transition—kind of like puberty, but for motherhood.

During matrescence, many things change at once:

• Your body and hormones
• Your brain (it actually rewires!)
• Your identity and sense of self
• Your relationships and priorities

You may feel love, joy, confusion, grief, and overwhelm—all at the same time. And that is normal. You are not doing anything wrong. You are going through a major life transition.

In simple terms: you are not just having a baby—you are becoming a new version of yourself.

💛 What Actually Changes During Matrescence?

During matrescence, a lot changes—and not just in your body.

Your brain, your identity, your emotions, your relationships, and even how you see yourself all begin to shift. It can feel like everything is different… because it is.

🧠 Your brain is changing (in a good way!)
Pregnancy and motherhood actually change your brain. Research shows your brain becomes more focused, more aware, and more tuned in to your baby’s needs.

Your nervous system also shifts. Before, it focused on keeping you safe. Now, it’s focused on keeping your baby safe too—even while you sleep. This can feel primal and overwhelming at times. We’ll have resources for you along the way that make this new hyper-awareness manageable. Don’t worry!

This isn’t “mom brain.”
It’s more like a brain upgrade.

And these changes can last for years—and may even protect your brain as you age.

🌱 Your identity is shifting
Matrescence isn’t just emotional—it’s a deep identity change.

You may start to question:

• Who am I now?
• What matters most to me?
• How do I balance all of this?

Your values, goals, relationships, and sense of self are all being reshaped. Sometimes that feels exciting. Sometimes it feels like grief or loss. Most of the time, it feels like both.

And that mix of feelings? Completely normal.

🪞 Old expectations may no longer fit
You may also notice pressure—ideas about what a “good mom” should be or how you’re supposed to feel.

Many women think they’re failing when they don’t match that picture.

But matrescence shows something important:
Those expectations were shaped by culture—not by you.

This is your chance to question them—and decide what motherhood looks like for you.

🤔 Why haven’t most people heard of it?
Even though the term has been around for decades, it’s only recently getting attention.

For a long time, the focus has been on the baby—not the mother. Many women were expected to “bounce back” quickly, without support or explanation for how deeply life changes after birth.

Because of this, many moms think:
“Why do I feel this way?”
“Am I doing something wrong?”

Matrescence helps answer those questions: this is a real, shared experience. When people learn the word, many feel relief—like, “Oh… this is a real thing. I’m not alone.”

💛 What this means for you
If you feel different after your baby arrives—physically, emotionally, or mentally—that’s not a failure.That’s matrescence.

Matrescence is not a problem to fix. It’s a transition to move through.

You may feel like you’ve lost parts of your old self—and at the same time, you are growing into a new version of yourself.

Both can be true.

As you prepare for your baby, try to also prepare for this change.

Give yourself time – clear your calendar as much as possible to allow yourself time to adjust and process this shift.
Ask for help.
Be gentle with yourself. There’s not one right way to feel.

And remember—we’re here with you through all of it. Not just the first 6 weeks… but for the next 12 months. We’re in this together. 💛