What is Matrescence?
Matrescence: the transformation through Motherhood
Matrescence is the physical, emotional, hormonal and social transition to becoming a mother.
A term originally coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the mid-1970s
Revived in more recent times by Dr Auralie Athan.
“Matrescence, the developmental phase of new motherhood, is like adolescence — a transition when hormones surge, bodies change, and identity and relationships shift”. - Cambridge Dictionary
Matrescence is also like Menopause. A time when your body precipitates massive changes in your sense of self, relationships, identity and how the world sees you. And you are the same and also so very different.
No, you are not crazy, losing it, or broken. You are experiencing Matrescence. And like everything, what one woman faces in her matrescence journey is unique to her and for her. We all may face shifts and changes in our sense of self or relationship or beliefs and values, but what that shift looks like and how that shows up is different for each of us.
“This process can be pretty intense. It’s even often misdiagnosed as postnatal depression – which I find pretty alarming. It does go to show how little nurturing and supportive education new parents receive when they first enter parenthood. “It’s peachy,” we say. And when it’s not, we automatically feel broken.”
This breaking open can be a shock. It is both a rite of passage and a sign of what Elena Bridgers describes as ‘evolutionary mismatch’, a mismatch between the environments and community structures in which humans evolved over hundreds of thousands of years and contemporary postindustrial lifestyles. The isolation and disappointment within this process can be traumatising.
‘This “becoming” happens so slowly, long after the mess of birth and the beauty of that first cuddle. This becoming is often filled with grief, relief, disappointment, intensity, surprise and the kind of bittersweet knowing that this is it, for the rest of our lives, we are this; we are parents.’
Zelma Tolley - The Postnatal Project
Matrescence Counselling
Whether your journey was straight forward and textbook or complex and complicated, working through it and talking to someone who understands and knows can be a powerful tool for new mothers and their partners to move forward with confidence.
Matrescence Counselling is where we debriefing Motherhood through 2-3 x 1 hour sessions (however this can go for longer depending on the individual)
In these sessions we explore and express what your pregnancy and birth journey means to you, what has surprised you and what was unexpected, how you are experiencing the transition to being a mother or father (and this is important even if you are already one!) and ways to integrate this experience into your life moving forward.
We explore concepts such as self compassion, grace, surrendering to the matrescence process and emerging in your new identity as mother to this child while strengthening the relationships and identities you already have.
Bookings: Goulds Natural Medicine Clinic - Mondays every week. Book via their online website.
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