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Matrescence is the transition into motherhood, encompassing emotional, physical, and psychological changes.
The emotional ups and downs are normal and part of adjusting to a new identity, while the physical changes include hormonal shifts and recovery from childbirth.
Understanding matrescence helps normalise the experience and fosters self-compassion.
Coping strategies for matrescence include self-care, social support, and professional guidance.
Becoming a mother is one of life’s biggest transitions. It’s more than just welcoming a new baby, it’s a profound transformation called matrescence. Although it was coined in the 1970s, this term is still not recognised by major dictionaries and spell-check doesn't even recognise it, but every mother does.
Awareness of Matrescence (both its existence and even the definition) is low. It’s often only discovered and understood once a woman has already gone through it (or is struggling with transitioning into motherhood) yet it’s one of the most universal experiences.
Like adolescence, matrescence involves physical, emotional, and psychological changes as women adapt to motherhood. Understanding it can help new mums feel less isolated and more supported.
Sign this petition. Demand that Oxford, Merriam-Webster, and tech companies add matrescence to their dictionaries.
It’s a life-changing process. The transition into motherhood. It brings changes in identity, questions about values, fluctuating emotions, and the information overload mothers often encounter after giving birth. Many of these shifts are rooted in hormonal changes.
Matrescence begins during pregnancy and continues through the first year or more of raising a child. Like adolescence, it brings identity shifts, hormonal changes, and emotional growth. It also transforms a woman’s sense of self, her relationships, and everyday life.
The term was coined in the mid-1970s by anthropologist Dana Raphael, who challenged the idea that women are automatically “built” for motherhood. Adjusting to motherhood is a gradual process that takes time.
When a baby is born, so is a mother, and she needs care and support too.
New mothers often experience a rollercoaster of emotions, no two journeys are the same. Adjusting to a new maternal role while reconciling your pre-baby identity can feel challenging.
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, joyful, anxious, or uncertain, often all at once. Hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and the responsibilities of parenthood can amplify these feelings.
Recognising that these changes are part of matrescence can help reduce shame or isolation.
Pregnancy and childbirth bring obvious physical transformations, but matrescence also involves less visible changes. Hormonal fluctuations can affect mood, skin, hair, and energy levels, while your body recovers, adjusts to a new routine, and nourishes the baby (if you choose to breastfeed or express milk).
Matrescence isn’t only about challenges; it’s also a period of remarkable personal growth.
Many new parents develop resilience, empathy, and problem-solving skills. Motherhood can reshape priorities, strengthen relationships, and reveal inner strengths.
A problem shared is a problem halved. Ways to gain support during matrescence include:
Matrescence is a natural and transformative part of becoming a mother. By understanding the emotional, physical, and psychological changes involved, new mums can approach this transition with confidence and compassion. Remember, it’s okay to seek help, take time for yourself, and honour your journey into motherhood in your own way.
Want to learn more about matrescence? Journalist and author Lucy Jones explores the concept in her book Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood.
Found this article useful? Read our advice on feeling touched out.
Matrescence typically begins during pregnancy and continues after birth, often through the first year or more of motherhood.
There’s no fixed timeline. Everyone’s experience is unique, it may last months, years, or even a lifetime. Some feel it intensely, while for others it’s a gradual process.
No. Matrescence includes emotional ups and downs, but postpartum depression is a medical condition that may require professional support. Persistent sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness should be discussed with your GP or maternal health professional.
It can change your sense of self as you take on the role of mothering, causing your priorities and perspectives to shift. It’s also about learning to integrate your identity before and after motherhood.
Support can include listening without judgement, sharing responsibilities, offering reassurance, and giving her time and space to adjust to motherhood.
Yes. Partners can experience emotional and psychological changes as they adjust to parenthood, a process sometimes called patrescence.
Understanding matrescence helps normalise the changes of early motherhood, reduces isolation, encourages self-compassion, and empowers parents to navigate this life-changing transition with confidence.
