Episode 43 - The transformation of becoming a mother

Have you heard the term matrescence?

It is the transition of becoming a mother and all that goes with that. It is a process, not just a moment in time. 

It is a wild, beautiful, complex and challenging process.

Motherhood changes us profoundly. This is completely normal.

In this episode, I chat with doula, coach and author Jessie Harrold about the massive transformational time of becoming a mother.

Jessie and I chat about:

Why the transition to motherhood takes 2-3 years – not just 6 weeks

• What matrescence is
• Why there is such a shift in identity as we become mothers
• How motherhood transforms us
• The impact that society has on new mothers
• How modern day motherhood is different from how motherhood used to be
• That mothering is a countercultural act
• The phases that women go through as they become mothers
• That it is expected to feel a full range of emotions in motherhood
• How you can heal your matrescence experience even years later after becoming a mother

Jessie is a coach and doula who has support women through radical life transformations and other rites of passage for over fifteen years. She works one-on-one with women and mothers, facilitates mentorship programs, women’s circles and rituals, and hosts retreats and nature-based experiences. Jessie is the author of Mothershift:  Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage (Shambhala 2024) and Project Body Love: My Quest to Love My Body and the Surprising Truth I Found Instead.  She is also the host of The Becoming Podcast.  Jessie lives on the east coast of Canada, where she mothers her two children, writes, and stewards the land.

Episode Links:

Say hi to Jessie on Instagram

• Read Jessie’s book Mothershift
• Check out all of Jessie’s offerings including her matrescence apprenticeship The Village
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 Helpful Articles: Read Dr Hilary Claire’s articles on wellness, motherhood, picky eating, and thriving as a mom.

Books to Thrive in Motherhood: Dive into The Motherhood Reset, Nourished Mama, and Mama Let It Go to overcome burnout and become a healthy, energized mom.

 Motherhood Reset Program: Get in-depth guidance for postpartum recovery, self-care for moms, and energy restoration with this program.

Wild and Well is a podcast dedicated to holistic health for moms, postpartum recovery, and pregnancy and postpartum wellness. We explore everything from functional health for women and gut health to nervous system regulation and motherhood burnout. Each episode offers practical tips for self-care for new moms, guidance on picky eating and parenting, and strategies to support your family’s natural kids’ health, so you can feel healthy, strong, and vital in motherhood.