Matrescence: Understanding the Invisible Transition to Motherhood
Matrescence: Understanding the Invisible Transition to Motherhood
Written by: Sydney Hillis, MScOT Student UofT
Some of life's biggest changes are visible, others happen quietly.
Becoming a mother is one of them.
While much attention is given to pregnancy, birth, and caring for a newborn, the internal transformation of becoming a mother often goes undiscussed, yet can influence every aspect of life.
There is a name for this transition: matrescence.
Just as adolescence describes the transition from childhood to adulthood, matrescence describes the profound physical, emotional, psychological, social, and identity changes that occur as someone becomes a mother.
Understanding matrescence can help normalize these changes and remind us that becoming a mother is about much more than caring for a newborn; it is about navigating a new chapter of life.
What is matrescence?
The term matrescence was first introduced in the 1970s and has since been brought into broader public awareness by reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Alexandra Sacks. It describes the developmental process of becoming a mother and recognizes that this transition extends far beyond pregnancy and birth.
Matrescence involves changes occurring across many areas of life at the same time. Physical recovery, hormonal shifts, changing relationships, evolving routines, emotional adjustment, and a developing sense of identity are all part of this process.
Research increasingly recognizes matrescence as a significant life transition that is not solely the physical experience of pregnancy or childbirth. Understanding this broader perspective can help explain why many mothers feel like they are navigating so much change all at once.
Importantly, there is no ‘right’ way to experience matrescence. For some, this transition feels exciting. For others, it may feel overwhelming, isolating, or surprisingly different than expected. Often, it is all of these at different moments.
What happens to your brain during pregnancy and postpartum?
One of the most fascinating aspects of matrescence is that your brain changes too.
Research has shown that pregnancy is associated with changes in brain structure that are thought to support the transition to motherhood. Rather than representing a loss of ability, these changes are believed to help mothers become more responsive to their baby's needs by increasing sensitivity to social and emotional cues. Some of these brain changes have even been found to persist for at least two years after giving birth (Hoekzema et al., 2017).
At the same time, many mothers describe experiencing ‘baby brain’ or brain fog.
You may find yourself forgetting appointments, searching for words, losing your train of thought, or feeling like everyday decisions require more mental effort than they once did.
These experiences are likely influenced by more than brain changes alone. Hormonal fluctuations, disrupted sleep, physical recovery, learning entirely new routines, increased mental load, and the constant demands of caring for an infant all place significant demands on the brain.
Rather than viewing these changes as your brain "getting worse," it may be helpful to realize your brain is adapting to an entirely new role while simultaneously managing extraordinary demands.
Becoming a mother means more than caring for a baby
When we picture postpartum life, we often focus on caring for the baby.
However, becoming a mother also means reorganizing your own life.
Daily routines look completely different. Sleep changes. Work responsibilities may shift. Relationships evolve. Time for hobbies, exercise, friendships, and self-care often becomes harder to find. Many mothers describe feeling like they are trying to balance who they were before with who they are becoming now.
One of the most significant adjustments isn't simply learning how to care for a baby, it's learning how to care for yourself while caring for someone else.
Feeling uncertain about your identity during this period is not uncommon. Identity naturally evolves during major life transitions, and matrescence is one of the most significant transitions many people will experience.
Why it can feel so overwhelming
One of the challenges of matrescence is that it is often invisible.
People may see a healthy baby but not recognize the enormous physical, emotional, cognitive, and social adjustments happening behind the scenes.
Many mothers expect to feel grateful, joyful, and confident. While these emotions may absolutely be present, they can also exist alongside exhaustion, uncertainty, frustration, grief, loneliness, or anxiety.
These experiences are not contradictory.
You can deeply love your baby and motherhood while also mourning parts of your previous life, missing your independence, or wondering when you will feel like yourself again.
Holding multiple emotions at once is often part of the transition.
What support may look like
Support during matrescence is rarely about helping someone ‘bounce back’ or return to who they were before pregnancy.
Instead, it is about supporting someone through the process of becoming who they are now.
This may involve reducing demands where possible by sharing caregiving responsibilities, asking for practical help, simplifying routines, creating opportunities for rest, or letting go of unrealistic expectations.
It may also involve increasing the resources available to support wellbeing through sleep, nutrition, movement, mental health support, social connection, education, pelvic health care, lactation support, or occupational therapy.
Occupational therapists work with individuals to understand how this transition is affecting everyday life. Together, you can explore changes in routines, roles, identity, energy, and participation, while developing practical strategies that support meaningful daily activities within your current capacity.
Support is rarely about finding one perfect solution but about understanding the full picture and creating an approach that reflects your unique experiences, needs, and goals.
Moving Forward
Matrescence is not a diagnosis, and it is not a sign that something is wrong.
It is a profound developmental transition that affects far more than the physical experience of pregnancy and birth.
Understanding matrescence can help replace self-criticism with self-compassion and remind us that many of the changes experienced during pregnancy and postpartum are part of a normal process of adaptation.
If the transition to motherhood feels more difficult than you expected, you don't have to navigate it alone. Support is available and understanding what you're experiencing is often the first step toward feeling more supported in this new chapter.
Citation:
Hoekzema, E., Barba-Müller, E., Pozzobon, C., Picado, M., Lucco, F., García-García, D., Soliva, J. C., Tobeña, A., Desco, M., Crone, E. A., Ballesteros, A., Carmona, S., & Vilarroya, O. (2017). Pregnancy leads to long-lasting changes in human brain structure. Nature neuroscience, 20(2), 287–296. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4458