What is matrescence?
Matrescence is the developmental transition into motherhood, including psychological, hormonal, and social changes. It is to motherhood what adolescence is to adulthood.
Key takeaways
- Matrescence is the developmental transition into motherhood, coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael.
- It involves hormonal, psychological, identity, and social changes, many of which extend well beyond twelve weeks.
- Naming it helps mothers distinguish a normal developmental shift from a mental-health concern that needs attention.
Matrescence is the developmental transition into motherhood. The term was coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s and has been revived in recent years by psychiatrists and researchers studying perinatal identity.
What is matrescence, precisely?
Matrescence is to motherhood what adolescence is to adulthood.It's a recognised developmental stage with hormonal, psychological, and social dimensions. It begins in pregnancy, intensifies in the fourth trimester, and continues across the first year and beyond.
How is matrescence different from postpartum depression?
Matrescence is a normal developmental transition; postpartum depression and anxiety are treatable mental-health conditions. The distinction matters because the language a mother has for her experience changes what help she seeks.
Frequently asked questions
Who coined the term matrescence?
How long does matrescence last?
Sources
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