Matrescence: The Hidden Developmental Stage Every Mother Experiences

What I didn't Expect When I was Expecting

As a clinical researcher, licensed psychologist, and leader of a therapy practice, I thought I was fully prepared for what to expect when I was expecting my first child. I had taken childbirth prep classes, I read 3 different books about birthing a baby and what to expect postpartum, and I tend to consider myself a rather resilient person. Yet, when I was discharged from the hospital with a healthy baby boy I was gripped with panic, I felt overwhelmed and generally terrified for about…an entire year.

This is not normal. Right?

As a licensed psychologist, I knew how to seek therapy and ask for professional help. In fact, I was building and leading a therapy practice that was serving 100s of patients, Two Chairs. Somehow I didn't feel like therapy was going to solve this problem of being overwhelmed by motherhood. Therapy is for clinical issues — like depression, anxiety, OCD, psychosis — all very real issues. While I felt sad or worried most days, I somehow felt like my sadness and worry were well-founded. I was sleep deprived because my son woke up multiple times in the night — sleep deprivation is highly correlated with mood issues (Tomaso, 2021). I was worried and sad because our doctor told me our son was a "failure to thrive" because he lost more than 10% of his body weight in the first 7 days due to feeding issues (spoiler alert: my son is 7 now and he is thriving). I was overwhelmed because every time I figured out a solid routine for my baby and me, the routine would change a few weeks later due to a developmental milestone. As it turns out, I was missing an incredibly important piece of the puzzle to understand what I was going through. I was missing the science of matrescence.

Matrescence and Early Motherhood

Becoming a mother is more than just a role change — it's a profound developmental transition similar to adolescence. This process, known as matrescence, involves significant neurobiological, psychological, and identity shifts that are often overlooked in our society. Importantly, matrescence occurs with every new child — this isn't just for first time moms (Athan, 2024).

You've likely never heard of matrescence. At the moment of me publishing this article, the term is red-underlined in Word and Google documents indicating that it is a misspelling. Several friends asked me if I personally invented this word! In fact, matrescence is a word and I did not invent it.

Recent neuroscience research has revealed fascinating changes in the maternal brain during pregnancy and postpartum (Pritschet et al., 2024). MRI studies show that some brain regions shrink through synaptic pruning, while others grow to enhance maternal caregiving abilities. This period of heightened neuroplasticity creates an unparalleled opportunity for learning and habit formation. We are just now beginning to understand the full implications of these neurological changes as they relate to women and birthing people's mood, psychology, and behavioral changes in early motherhood.

As a clinical psychologist who has worked with countless women in early motherhood, I've observed how understanding matrescence can empower new mothers. By recognizing this transition as a normal, albeit challenging, developmental stage, we can better support women through the emotional rollercoaster of early motherhood.

Becoming a mother is more than just a role change — it's a profound developmental transition similar to adolescence.

At our company, Tara, we take a scientific approach to delivering micro-learning interventions that explore various aspects of matrescence and provide evidence-based strategies to navigate this transformative journey. We want every mom and birthing person to harness the power of matrescence and manage through the ups and downs of early motherhood with confidence.