Matrescence: the missing word to describe the invisible revolution of motherhood
Becoming a mother profoundly transforms a woman, far beyond what words can express. Yet, this biological, psychological, and social metamorphosis has no official name in the French language. Why does such a universal and intense phenomenon remain invisible? An international campaign is advocating to include the term “matrescence” in dictionaries, to finally recognize this major transition.
In this article, we explore:
✅ What matrescence is and why it deserves to be named
✅ The scientific evidence of this brain transformation
✅ Why its absence in language reflects a societal problem
✅ How to support this initiative to better assist mothers
What is matrescence? A revolution without a name
Imagine a transformation so profound that it changes your brain, your emotions, and your place in the world… without anyone being able to name it. This is what millions of women experience during their transition to motherhood.
The term “matrescence” (from the English matrescence, itself inspired by the Latin mater, “mother”) was coined in 1973 by anthropologist Dana Raphael. It refers to all the physiological, psychological, and social changes a woman goes through during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
Yet, 50 years later, this word does not appear in any major dictionary (neither Larousse, Oxford, nor Merriam-Webster). An absurdity when you consider that terms like “IDGAF” (I Don’t Give A F***, "I don’t care") are officially listed there.
"If we cannot name something, how can we support it? How can we prepare for it? It's about feeling seen and understood."
— Michelle Battersby, president of Peanut (an app dedicated to mothers)
A petition to recognize matrescence
In 2024, the Peanut app (a social network for women) and the Tommee Tippee brand launched a bold campaign: a full page in the New York Times with this striking message:
« IDGAF is in the dictionary. Matrescence is not. It’s time to pay attention to mothers. »
A QR code links to a Change.org petition asking dictionaries and tech giants (Google, Apple) to include the term. The proposed definition?
- « A physical, psychological, emotional, and social process of becoming a mother. »
- « The deepest neurological reorganization of the adult human brain observed to date. »
👉 Sign the petition to add “matrescence” to the dictionary
The science behind matrescence: when a mother’s brain reinvents itself
Matrescence is not just a "difficult period" or "baby blues." It is a brain transformation comparable to adolescence, as neuroscience shows.
1. The brain restructures during and after pregnancy
A study published in Nature Neuroscience (2016) reveals that:
- Gray matter decreases in certain areas (notably those related to theory of mind, which allows understanding others' emotions).
- These changes last at least two years and improve the ability to decode the baby's needs.
- The reward circuit is altered, strengthening maternal attachment.
« My brain was now literally a new brain. »
— Lucy Jones, author of Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood (2024)
2. A transformation as intense as puberty
Researchers compare matrescence to adolescence :
- Hormonal storm (estrogens, progesterone, oxytocin…).
- New social identity (transition from “woman” to “mother”).
- Increased vulnerability to stress and anxiety-depressive disorders.
Yet, unlike puberty, matrescence remains a taboo. Why?
Why the silence around matrescence? A societal problem
The lack of a word to name this transition says a lot about the place of mothers in our society.
1. Motherhood, invisible and undervalued work
Lucy Jones, author of Matrescence, points to industrial capitalism :
“ It is convenient to keep maternal work hidden and undervalued, for economic reasons. An exhausted or isolated mother is less likely to claim rights.”
Indeed:
- 66% of American mothers report having suffered from postpartum mental health issues (source).
- 56% of them feel they received little or no support.
- 67% of mothers have never heard of matrescence (Peanut survey, 2025).
2. Maternal isolation, a public health crisis
The WHO has warned about the isolation of young mothers, a major factor in postpartum depression. Without words to describe their experience, many feel:
- Guilty (“I should be happy”).
- Misunderstood (“It’s normal, it will pass”).
- Pathologized (“You’re depressed, take antidepressants”).
« Without a term for matrescence, a normal experience is medicalized and the social conditions that make motherhood so difficult are ignored. »
— Lucy Jones
How to act? Recognize matrescence to better support mothers
The first step is to name this phenomenon. Here’s how to contribute:
1. Support the petition to make the term official
👉 Sign the Change.org petition
2. Talk about matrescence around you
- Share this article with (future) mothers.
- Use the word in conversations, on social media (#Matrescence).
- Recommend resources :
Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood – Lucy Jones (link)
The Instagram account @matrescence (in English)
3. Demand better support
- Demand systematic postpartum consultations (as in Sweden, where mothers receive free psychological follow-up).
- Support organizations like Maman Blues (France) or Postpartum Support International (international).
Conclusion: Matrescence, a word to break isolation
Becoming a mother is being reborn. Yet, this transformation remains unnamed, unrecognized, and insufficiently supported.
By including "matrescence" in our language, we:
✔ Let's validate the experience of millions of women.
✔ Let's encourage research on maternal mental health.
✔ Let's fight isolation by making this transition visible.
And you, had you ever heard of matrescence? Share your experience in the comments!
🔍 To learn more
- Study on brain changes during pregnancy (Nature Neuroscience)
- Book Matrescence by Lucy Jones
- Petition to add "matrescence" to the dictionary
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