What is Matrescence and Why Does it Matter

By Danielle D. Jenkins, PsyD

Matrescence is a term created by Dana Raphael to define the time in a woman’s life as she moves from pre-conception through the postpartum period and beyond. It is a critical period that is full of transition, identity shifts, and hormonal fluctuations. It’s a term that is starting to become more well-known and an experience that is felt by everyone who becomes a mom.

Aurélie Athan, Ph.D. says this about matrescence, “The process of becoming a mother, coined by Dana Raphael, Ph.D. (1973), is a developmental passage where a woman transitions through pre-conception, pregnancy and birth, surrogacy or adoption, to the postnatal period and beyond. The exact length of matrescence is individual, recurs with each child, and may arguably last a lifetime! The scope of the changes encompass multiple domains --bio-psycho-social-political-spiritual-- and can be likened to the developmental push of adolescence.”

And just as adolescence is experienced differently by each individual, matrescense is challenging for all, grueling for some, and even life-threatening for a few. It is certainly my hope that we start to talk about this season of life with more understanding and that research will explore in more detail the various things one can do to live more resiliently during this stage of life.

Alexandra Sacks, in her 2017 article in the NY Times, discusses important aspects of Matrescence including maternal ambivalence, changing family dynamics, and guilt and shame. She says, “Knowing the challenges of matrescence will normalize and validate how new mothers may be feeling.” It is important to talk about the feelings and experiences in motherhood so we can navigate the choppy waters without succumbing to the storm.

 

Click here to watch Dr. Sacks’ informative TED talk on the subject.

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