Supporting one another through Matrescence: From Pregnancy to Postpartum
What is Matrescence?
Matrescence is a term that was coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s and has gained traction in recent years as women yearn to make sense of their experiences and reclaim the narrative around pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
Matrescence describes the journey into motherhood, and acknowledges the incredible transformation that happens during this time physically, mentally, hormonally and spiritually. With our brain essentially rewiring itself to look after a baby and transition from maiden to mother, these monumental changes are just as significant as those that occur during adolescence.
It’s almost like a metamorphosis, akin to a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, with some messy and crazy stuff going on inside the cocoon that we don’t yet fully understand!
Knowing about Matrescence can help to validate all the wide range of emotions and changes you will experience during this time, which can hopefully help you to have compassion for yourself as you navigate its challenges.
So, how can being with other women help?
As a yoga teacher and doula, I love bringing groups of women together who are going through similar stages of matrescence, including pregnancy and postpartum. Sitting in circle with other women is something that women have been doing for hundreds of thousands of years. Nowadays, our lives are very isolated compared to how they would have been historically, when we lived in tribes and would have been birthing together, foraging together and caring for one another. This makes it even more important to create the space and time to get together with other women and talk about our experiences, reducing stigma and loneliness.
My weekly classes offer this opportunity and I also see the immense benefits of running longer workshops and retreats. Prenatally, these events are focused on creating a space to feel nurtured and connected to their baby, as well as gaining knowledge and tools to use throughout labour and birth. Here are a couple of quotes from previous prenatal retreats, which really sum up the benefits of being in circle with other pregnant women:
“I loved it and felt really part of a supportive and safe community. I would definitely want to do something like this again.”
“It can be such an isolating and overwhelming time, so this makes one feel more connected to people in a similar boat.”
During the postpartum period, so much of the focus shifts to the baby, which can feel really disorienting for new mums, who can often feel as though they need mothered themselves. By creating events centered around the needs of new mothers, we are saying that they ARE important and should be celebrated for all the incredible things their bodies have done. We draw from traditions such as yoga and Chinese Traditional Medicine, as well as share stories and laugh, which is medicine in itself!
If you want to read more about my workshops and retreats for pregnancy & postpartum, head over to my events page.
