A Long Way To Go

Becoming a mother is often spoken about as if it is instant. You have the baby. You become a mum. You get on with life.

But there is a word for the huge transition that can happen when you become a mother: matrescence.

Matrescence is the profound physical, psychological and emotional transition of becoming a mother. It is often described as the adult equivalent of adolescence, involving hormonal shifts, changes to the brain’s neural pathways, and a reshaping of identity, relationships and sense of self.

So if motherhood has made you feel unrecognisable to yourself, it does not mean you are doing it wrong.

It may mean you are moving through one of the biggest identity shifts of your life without enough language, support or preparation.

In episode #5 of A Long Way To Go, qualified counsellor, psychotherapist and BACP-registered practitioner @gemma.capocci explains why matrescence can feel so destabilising, and why understanding it can help women feel less alone in the transition.

Save this for the next time you wonder why motherhood feels like such a lot.

Comment MATRESCENCE and we’ll send you the full episode.

Watch now on @youtube, @spotify and wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️

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