How Matrescence is giving New Meaning to my Postpartum Experience

Matrescence (noun): The physical, emotional, psychological, and social transition that occurs during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

During my first pregnancy, I wasn’t aware of the concept of matrescence. From the moment I became pregnant, so much of my attention was on my growing baby, and understandably so—babies are symbols of hope and endless possibilities. But in all the excitement, there was another part of the story that went mostly overlooked: my own transformation.

After my baby was born in 2021, I was quickly caught up in the whirlwind of my new responsibilities and all the changes in my life, but I struggled to make sense of it all. I was acutely aware that my life was changing in unexpected ways—obviously welcoming a baby would bring changes—but I didn’t have a framework for processing what was occurring.

The term matrescence was coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s. Akin to adolescence, when so many changes occur in a young person’s life and self-understanding, matrescence is starting to be recognized as an equally important and transformational period in a woman’s life. More than just the physical changes my body went through during pregnancy and childbirth, matrescence speaks to the unseen emotional, psychological, and social shifts as well.

I’m currently 5 months postpartum with my second baby, and matrescence has given me a newfound understanding of myself and the transformation I’m once again experiencing. I’m able to acknowledge the redefining of my life as part of a broader transformative process. Every aspect of my life has shifted again—from my daily routine, my plans for the future, my priorities and how I spend my time, even my friendships and who I find myself spending time with (and without). This time around, I’m embracing and honoring these changes by knowing full well that this is a time in my life for redefining.

Just as I’ve observed many of the wonderful mothers I’ve supported as a postpartum Doula do, I find myself reflecting on my former self while trying to figure out my new role as a mother of two. My understanding of this time as a life-changing period in my life connects me with moms (and all parents) around the world who are also navigating this journey, and that shared experience brings me strength.