Matrescence in the Spotlight: Reflections on Lucy Jones’ Powerful New Book

The word matrescence is finally having its moment.

Though the term was originally coined decades ago, it’s only in recent years that it has begun to gain the widespread recognition it deserves. 

I’ve written about matrescence before (read here) and recorded a podcast episode on the topic with Cynthia Tinajero for her Mamistad Mom Chat podcast back in May. Not long after, I learned that journalist and science writer Lucy Jones had just published an entire book on the subject, and I couldn’t wait to dive in.

I just finished listening to Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood and think it’s a great read for anyone navigating--or supporting--the profound transformation into motherhood.

What Is Matrescence?

If you're new to the term, matrescence is the process of becoming a mother. It’s a complex physical, emotional, hormonal, psychological, and identity transformation—comparable in scope to adolescence. Just like puberty, matrescence brings massive changes. But unlike puberty, society doesn’t often make space for this transition—or acknowledge how deeply it impacts the brain, body, and soul.

A Book That Validates the Full Motherhood Experience

In Matrescence, Lucy Jones weaves together personal narrative, cutting-edge research, cultural critique, and powerful storytelling to shed light on how pregnancy and motherhood change us—not just externally but internally and neurologically.

One of the most fascinating parts of the book for me as a maternal mental health therapist was the deep dive into the neuroscience of motherhood. Jones shares research showing how pregnancy literally reshapes the brain—structurally and functionally. These changes are not minor. In fact, certain areas of the brain related to empathy, social cognition, and threat detection become more active and refined, enabling mothers to better attune to and protect their babies.

At the same time, the brain becomes more vulnerable—to overwhelm, stress, sleep deprivation, and mental health challenges. This intersection of growth and vulnerability is at the heart of what I see so often in my clinical work with mothers.

Why This Matters in Mental Health Work

In therapy, I regularly meet women who are confused by the intensity of their emotional responses after becoming a mother. They wonder if something is wrong with them. They question why they’re not bouncing back—or why they feel like a totally different person.

Lucy Jones’ book reinforces what I often explain in session: You are not broken. You are transforming.

Your brain, body, and identity are undergoing massive renovation. And yet, our culture continues to treat new motherhood as a phase that should be intuitive and full of pure joy. There’s very little acknowledgment of the full psychological upheaval.

By spotlighting the science and emotional truths of this transformation, Matrescence gives language and validation to what so many mothers feel but haven’t been able to articulate.

A Call for Cultural Change

Jones doesn’t stop at the personal. She also explores the systemic failure to support mothers, including the lack of adequate postpartum care, mental health support, and realistic narratives in media. Her work is a call to action—for practitioners, policymakers, and society at large—to recognize motherhood as a major life transition that deserves more than platitudes and baby showers.

Listening to Matrescence felt like a deep exhale—an affirmation that the work I do with mothers every day is not only valid, but vital. This book beautifully articulates the transformation I witness so many women go through as they navigate identity shifts, emotional upheaval, and the lifelong journey of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting.

If you're a new mom, an expecting mom, or even years into motherhood and still feeling the ripple effects of change—this book is for you. If you’ve felt like something invisible shifted inside you that no one seems to see or understand, Matrescence will help you name it, normalize it, and begin to heal. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the emotional weight of motherhood, know that you don’t have to carry it all alone. Reach out for more support!