Maternal Mental Health Month - Part 1
Matrescence
May is Maternal Mental Health Month and I want to share some information on the different types of maternal mental health issues and other helpful information around the postpartum period.
According to Postpartum Support International, one in five moms and one in ten dads will suffer from postpartum depression. Yes, Dads. When mom suffers from postpartum depression, Dad is more likely to also suffer from it. Postpartum depression doesn’t just affect moms, it affects families. It’s important that we understand the risk factors, the signs, and learn how to better set families up for success in the postpartum period.
For this first blog, I wanted to focus on matrescence, since it all starts here.
Matrescence refers to the process of becoming a mother, encompassing physical, psychological, and social changes that occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood.
I LOVE this. We need to acknowledge that women undergo a process when they become moms (a process, by the way, that has been compared to what you experience going through puberty). Understanding this process helps us better support moms and families.
Matrescence acknowledges the profound and transformative nature of the transition to motherhood and recognizes that it involves a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. It isn’t just, woman gets pregnant, woman gives birth, woman lives happily ever after. There are SIGNIFICANT changes occurring from the moment of conception all through the postpartum period.
During matrescence, a woman's body undergoes significant physiological changes in order to support the growth and development of the baby. Hormonal shifts can affect mood, appetite, and energy levels, while physical changes such as weight gain and bodily discomfort can impact self-image and overall well-being. In addition to these physical changes, there are also psychological and social adjustments that occur, as women navigate the emotional and relational dimensions of motherhood. I remember about 3 months after giving birth to my daughter, finding myself trying to justify why I couldn’t breastfeed her anymore. I knew in my heart I wanted to continue, and was confused why all of a sudden, I just felt like I needed to stop. The conclusion I came to was simple….I just wanted my body to be my body again. I ended up allowing myself the grace to feel those feelings and believe they would pass. And they did. I nursed until my daughter was one years old, when she decided she didn’t want to nurse anymore. I had some moms telling me to just stop nursing, while others told me this was normal and that I should keep going. Neither opinion was bad advice. They were all sharing their experiences and what worked for them.
Matrescence is often compared to adolescence (or puberty) in terms of its transformative nature and the range of challenges and opportunities it presents. Like adolescence, matrescence is a time of growth, exploration, and identity formation, as women transition into a new role and negotiate the shifting dynamics of their relationships with partners, family members, and friends.
Overall, matrescence is an important concept that highlights the profound and complex nature of the transition to motherhood. Recognizing and supporting the needs of women during this time can help to promote maternal well-being, strengthen family bonds, and foster healthy child development.
We need to give moms the support, love, and space to navigate her own journey in becoming a mother. Dr. Weston A. Price in his book, Nourishing Traditions does a beautiful job sharing how tribes and other traditional cultures fed, supported, and cared for new moms. Most had a “laying in” period for new moms of 40 days. Her only job was to rest, recover, and bond with new baby. We have lost that in modern society. Admittedly, I think having to lay in bed for 40 days would have been more mentally challenging than not, but the idea is that these women didn’t have any inward or social pressure to bounce back quickly and go right back to life and her responsibilities. She was given space to recover. She was given space to gently transition into motherhood.
Maternal mental health is a big deal, and I am glad we dedicate an entire month to it. I really feel like women are under extraordinary pressures to have it all together and to bounce back quickly. Some women feel the pressure to keep up with other Instagram perfect moms. Others are struggling to make rent, keep food on the table, navigate childcare, and being a single mom.
In either situation, there is added stress to an already physically, emotionally, and psychologically stressful time. We need to return to the idea that it takes a “village”. I don’t have one single answer for how to get there. But I love sharing stories and ideas. If you want to share your story, I have an ear to hear. If you have an idea or are already involved in the space of caring for new moms I would love to hear those as well.
You can email me at renee@ninebitesnutrition.com
In the next blog, I will share more statistics and information around maternal mental health disorders. The different types, the risk factors, and resources available.
