When a baby is born, so is a mother. #matrescence

This week, we're highlighting motherhood

-- or rather --

the topsy-turvy transition into motherhood

called MATRESCENCE.

Remember your awkward teenage years? Yeah, matrescence is kind of like that.

New moms sometimes expect that motherhood will be beautiful and easy and natural. And some moments are. But too often moms are not prepared for the difficult physical and emotional transition that follows childbirth. Moms aren't to blame -- our culture, our media, our doctors and even our government regularly fail to acknowledge the whole story. 

When a baby is born, so is a mother, says reproductive psychiatrist Alexandra Sacks, but the natural (and sometimes unsteady) process of transition to motherhood is often silenced by shame or misdiagnosed as postpartum depression. In this TED talk, Sacks reveals the emotional tug-of-war of becoming a new mother -- and shares a term that could help describe it: matrescence.

If we're going to change the way our culture understands this transition to motherhood, women need to be talking to each other, says Sacks. So mothers, talk about your matrescence with other mothers, with your friends and if you have one, with your partner so that they can understand their own transition and better support you. 

For confidential support 24/7, Guild members (and anyone in your household) can call (888) 661-9141 or log on to www.liveandworkwell.com with access code: mpiphp. 

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#postpartumdepression #motherhood #animationisfamily