By Samantha Hall, Matrescence Educator & Founder of Welcome Mama
Motherhood changes everything, your body, your mind, your relationships, your routines.
But no one really prepares you for how deeply it will change you.
Who you are. How you see the world. What you care about.
That feeling, the identity shift that so many moms experience but struggle to name, is called matrescence.
And once you understand what it is, everything starts to make a little more sense.
What is Matrescence?
Matrescence is the developmental process of becoming a mother.
It’s physical, emotional, psychological, and social.
It’s the hormones.
The shifting relationships.
The internal tug-of-war between who you were before and who you’re becoming now.
If that sounds familiar, it’s because matrescence is often compared to adolescence, another messy, transformational stage of human development. Just like puberty marks the transition to adulthood, matrescence marks the transition into motherhood.
You’re not just adding “mom” to your title.
You’re stepping into a new social role, one that impacts how others see you, and how you see yourself.
And that shift? It’s not instant. It’s not always graceful. And it doesn’t end after the newborn phase.
Where the Term Matrescence Came From
The term matrescence was first coined by Dana Raphael, a medical anthropologist and breastfeeding advocate, in the 1970s. Raphael noticed that in many cultures, mothers were treated with deep care and support , not just physically, but emotionally and socially, too.
She argued that motherhood was a major life transition, one worthy of the same recognition we give to other stages of human development.
But in the West, we often center everything around the baby and leave mothers to figure themselves out in isolation.
Raphael’s work was largely overlooked at the time, but in recent years, matrescence has been revived by psychologists, educators, and maternal health advocates (like me), who are determined to name what so many women feel but aren’t given language for.
(If you’re curious about the full history, I break it down in this post: What Is Matrescence? The Woman Who Named What You’re Feeling )
Feel Confident Caring for Your Newborn!
Bringing your baby home is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. Our Newborn Care Class gives you the knowledge and confidence to care for your little one from day one.
✔ Safe sleep & soothing techniques to help your baby rest peacefully
✔ Diapering, bathing & feeding essentials for stress-free newborn care
✔ Car seat safety & expert guidance to keep your baby secure
Feel prepared, supported, and confident in your parenting journey.
It Doesn’t End at 6 Weeks Postpartum
One of the biggest misconceptions about matrescence is that it only happens after birth. Matrescence and postpartum are not synonymous. I like to think of Matrescence as a forever rollercoaster.
It starts when you start thinking about becoming a mom, you get on the rollercoaster. You’re waiting, nothing has changed in where you are in the world but you’re starting to think about the ride you’re about to go on. You don’t know what it is going to feel like, you can see it, you have seen other people go on the ride so you have an idea, but it’s nothing like riding the rollercoaster.
Then you get pregnant and the roller coaster starts going. It’s slow, again, nothing crazy. Maybe you have some nerves, some butterflies, you’re really bracing for the ride. You tick up. Slowly.
Then you reach the peak- birth. You give birth and just like that you tip over the edge. You are the mother of a human who is earthside. Your world just changed in an instant and postpartum begins. You are free-falling. You are in it. You are on the ride. You and your life are changing and changing fast.
Some people love the free fall! They don’t get sick, the feel alive, they could do it over and over.
Other people hate the free fall (hi it’s me at 34). They feel nauseous, scared, they want OFF.
This is the same with us as we enter motherhood and matrescence. Every person is going to go through matrescence when they become a mom (no matter how they become a mom) and yet it’s going to be completely unique to each person. For some, it’s clarifying. For others, it’s confusing. For some, it’s easy. For others, it’s brutal.
And here’s the kicker- the ride doesn’t stop after the free fall. It keeps going. You have your straight aways, your hills, your loop de loops. Just like becoming doesn’t stop after postpartum.
In reality?
You’ll go through many phases of matrescence over the course of your motherhood journey.
It can hit you when:
- You’re deciding whether or not to become a mother.
- You’re transitioning from one to two kids.
- You’re returning to work and feeling unrecognizable.
- Your child starts school and suddenly you have space again.
- You realize your identity is not centered around caregiving anymore.
Matrescence isn’t linear, it’s cyclical. It ebbs and flows with your life.
Understanding this can change everything about how you show up in motherhood, and how you show up for yourself.
Why Matrescence and Maternal Mental Health Matters
When we don’t name what’s happening, we internalize it.
We think we’re failing.
But when you know you’re in matrescence, you start to realize:
- You’re not broken, you’re evolving.
- You’re not behind, you’re in a new era.
- You’re not failing, you’re transforming.
And that shift in perspective is powerful.
Because instead of asking, “Why can’t I figure this out?”
You can ask, “What do I need in this phase of becoming?”
What’s Next?
One of the most helpful ways I’ve found to understand matrescence is through the lens of eras , five distinct phases moms move through again and again. Each one has its own energy, challenges, and growth.
I created a framework to help women identify their current “Era of Matrescence”, not to box you in, but to help you feel seen and supported exactly where you are.
That is coming soon so you can go to www.welcome-mama.com and sign up for our newsletter so you know when it is here.
And connect with me at Welcome Mama, where we’re building a movement for moms who are not just surviving motherhood , we’re growing through it.
Samantha Hall is a certified matrescence educator, content creator, and founder of Welcome Mama , a motherhood advocacy brand helping women navigate the identity shifts of motherhood with clarity, humor, and honesty. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two kids, and is on a mission to make matrescence part of the mainstream motherhood conversation.
Website: www.welcome-mama.com
Pin This Blog
Any/all of the links in this blog may be affiliate links of which How 2 Mom, LLC receives a small commission, without any additional cost to you. Using affiliate links help us maintain our website, continue to provide for our community, and support our families, and we are forever grateful for your support!
