Embracing Matrescence: A Path to Maternal Well-Being
The journey into motherhood is a profound transition, one that profoundly impacts a woman's identity, emotions, and overall well-being. A recent pilot study sheds light on this often-overlooked phase of life known as matrescence—a term that describes the developmental transition to motherhood, akin to adolescence.
Understanding Matrescence
Matrescence encompasses the myriad changes women experience as they transition into motherhood, including hormonal shifts, changes in relationships, and alterations in self-perception. The study highlights that these changes can lead to heightened vulnerability to mental health issues, such as postpartum depression and anxiety. Alarmingly, despite the fact that 13-20% of new mothers experience depressive symptoms, only 20% are screened for postpartum depression.
Matrescence study: Key takeaways
The study comprised a matrescence education program for pregnant and post-partum mothers, via lectures, discussions and experiential exercises. The program emphasised understanding the emotional and social challenges of motherhood.
Participants were surveyed before and after the learning sessions, with the researchers finding that after learning about the emotional and social challenges of motherhood, participants reported improved:
Mindfulness: Overall mindfulness increased, particularly in the areas of observing and non-judging.
Self-Compassion: There was a significant increase in self-compassion scores, indicating a greater ability to treat oneself with kindness during challenging times.
Post-Traumatic Growth: Participants reported substantial increases in personal strength and improved relationships, showcasing the program's effectiveness in fostering resilience.
Qualitatively, participants shared accounts of the physical changes, identity shifts, and emotional challenges experienced during motherhood. Many described the concept of matrescence as validating and empowering, providing a framework for understanding their experiences.
The Importance of Awareness
As highlighted by this study, raising awareness about matrescence is crucial for supporting new mothers. The transition to motherhood is not just a personal journey; it is a societal one that impacts families and communities. Increasing awareness can lead to:
Better Support Systems: By educating healthcare providers and the community about the complexities of matrescence, we can foster more compassionate and comprehensive support systems for mothers.
Preventive Education: Programs like the one explored in this study can equip mothers with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate their transition, potentially reducing the risk of mental health issues.
Normalising Experiences: Understanding matrescence helps to destigmatise the challenges of motherhood - it’s not just you. When mothers know that their feelings and experiences are common and part of a developmental process, they may feel more empowered to seek help and support.
How Mum Love supports Matresence awareness
Mum Love is a UK foundation that advocates for greater cultural and policy recognition of maternal role transition. Through our digital platform, we make sure that no mum feels alone as they navigate their motherhood journey.
From therapist-approved exercises, a digital chat assistant, signposting, and sharing the stories of mums who have experienced role confusion or identity loss, Mum Love aims to destigmatise these complex feelings.
After all, we’re all told that motherhood should be beautiful, instinctive, precious - but for many it is confusing, raw and heartbreaking. To discover that others may have felt the same as you helps to feel more empowered, and encourages mums to seek support.
As this study shows, understanding matrescence is not just beneficial for mothers; it’s essential for the health of families and communities as a whole