Imagine a world where matrescence, the developmental transformation from woman to mother, was truly recognised. Where this rite of passage was as understood and spoken about as adolescence.

While matrescence isn’t a household word YET, my guest today on MAMA, UNLEASHED!, Nikki McCahon, has created a framework and language around matrescence to make this uncertain, and often challenging, time of becoming a mother more clear and less scary.

Nikki created her Seasons of Matrescence model to support mothers through the varying transitions and changes of motherhood and to offer the woman a map of where she is, and where she is most likely heading. 

In this episode we talk all about matrescence, Nikki’s model (which incorporates the 4 seasons of the year) and how matrescence has the power to break the societal standards of motherhood.

LEARN MORE
-  Find out more about Nikki McCahon and her Seasons of Matrescence program at www.NikkiMcCahon.com

-       Explore Dr Jen’s new course How To Be A Happier Mother – use your unique neurobiology and your motherhood transformation as the catalyst to thrive. At www.DrJen.com.au/courses. Released late January 2023. 

FOLLOW ME: on Instagram or Facebook for more information, knowledge and evidence-based tools to thrive in motherhood  @DrJenHackerPearson

FOLLOW NIKKI: on Instagram @NikkiMcCahon

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Timestamps
[3.45] In matrescence we ask ourselves a lot of questions: who am I now I’m a mother? 

What happened to me?

What’s going on in my life? 

What’s happening to my relationship with my partner and with myself?

Why am I alone and isolated?

[5.45] Mothers need community to thrive. Isolation and loneliness are risk factors for postpartum/ postnatal depression.

[8.45] The importance of having language and a framework around matrescence. Otherwise, every mother will feel “there is something wrong with me”.

[11.30] Motherhood is a rite of passage – a moving from one group into another. Society tells us who we need to be to fit into the new group. This puts immense pressure on new mothers.

[13.00] How our society and culture benefit from us feeling like we are an inadequate mother and feeling like it is all our fault.

[14.33] The follow-on and full-circle effect of not supporting mothers: if society doesn’t look after the mother, the mother struggles more to look after her children. Research has shown this can lead to mental health issues in the children, which in turn will burden society.

[16.00] How Nikki created her Seasons of Matrescence model and program.

[19.55] The importance of understanding yourself, and how your life experiences have shaped you to this point, when you enter matrescence. How your current situation affects your transformation.

[23.20] The Seasons of Matrescence model – the Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer transformations of motherhood. We cycle through. Matrescence lasts a lifetime.

[36.40] Why pregnant women need to know about matrescence before they have their baby.

[40.00] How the transformation of matrescence empowers women to challenge the status quo and find their voice.
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Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

What's the best motherhood brain hack to be a happier mother?

Today on MAMA, UNLEASHED! I explain why I don’t like the term “hack”, especially in motherhood, and why we should instead be focussing on tools, strategies, exercises and protocols, to get real and long-lasting results.

 In this episode, I talk about the similarities, differences and connections of the brain and the mind, and the role each play in your feelings of happiness in motherhood. I give you my first of many non-hack motherhood brain hacks (you’ll see why I named it that) and steps for how to use it immediately and start feeling happier.  

LEARN MORE
- Workshop: How To Be A Happier Mother – use your unique neurobiology as your catalyst to thrive in motherhood  

An introduction to the motherhood brain and mind, yourself in matrescence, neuroplasticity (the way your brain changes especially when you become a mother) and how you can train your brain and mind to feel happier in motherhood.

Learn more at https://drjen.ck.page/219c0d6552


- MAMA, UNLEASHED! episodes about matrescence

o   Episode 4: Why you must know what matrescence - www.DrJen.com.au/ep4

o   Episode 8: Why am I now? – Your new identity in motherhood - www.DrJen.com.au/ep8

o   Episode 15: The 50 shades of motherhood spectrum - www.DrJen.com.au/ep15

o   Episode 28: Matrescence or postpartum depression - www.DrJen.com.au/ep28

o   Episode 33: How to truly thrive in matrescence - www.DrJen.com.au/ep33

FOLLOW ME: on Instagram or Facebook for more information, knowledge and evidence-based tools to thrive in motherhood  @DrJenHackerPearson


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[Timestamps]

[1.50] Why it is important to decide what happy means for you.

[4.30] What is matrescence?

[5.11] Two reasons I don’t like the term “hack, especially in motherhood.

[6.36] Why you can’t hack your way out of doing the work to feel happy – physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual work.

[7.50] Neuroplasticity and how our thoughts help shape our brain and mind.

[8.13] What are the brain and the mind are and how do they work?

[13.28] Steps and tool you can use to influence your happiness.

Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson

Amazing things happen in a woman’s brain when she becomes a mother, and we don’t even know half of it yet. Thankfully maternal neuroscience researchers like Dr Jodi Pawluski are making great progress in this very understudied area of science.

In this episode of MAMA, UNLEASHED! I have the absolute pleasure of delving into the brain of Dr Jodi Pawluski, a leading maternal neuroscientist, psychotherapist, and mother of two. We talk about so much, from why we must remove the negative connotations associated with baby brain, to the neuroscience of maternal mental health and how our expectations in motherhood and our understanding around maternal mental illness can influence our experience of matrescence.

LEARN MORE
- Get the links to Jodi's articles, all we speak about, and more at www.DrJen.com.au/ep34

- About Dr Jodi Pawluski at www.JodiPawluski.com

-   PREPARE YOURSELF FOR MOTHERHOOD-  explore Dr Jen’s course Write Your Empowered Matrescence Plan to learn more about matrescence, how to prepare yourself for matrescence and becoming a mother, and how you can write a matrescence plan to prepare you to thrive during this transformative time thriving at www.drjenhackerpearson.samcart.com/products/matplan

FOLLOW ME: on Instagram or Facebook for more information, knowledge and evidence-based tools to thrive in motherhood  @DrJenHackerPearson

FOLLOW JODI: on Instagram @dr.jodi_pawluski

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[Timestamps]

[4.35] About all things baby brain, pregnancy brain, lactation brain.

[5.55] Memory differences in the brain of (pregnant) mothers vs non-mothers.

[9.10] We have to change the narrative and mindset that there is a deficit in the brain in motherhood.

[10.50] The mental load of motherhood – the “mother load” – evolution will have us pick the most important things

[12.50 Neuroplasticity and the brain changes that happen in matrescence – when a woman becomes a mother.

[13.36] What areas of a mother’s brain changes in size, structure and activity, and what outcome this results in.

[18.00] Brain changes occur in all caregivers, including fathers, adoptive parents, and grandparents, but the effects of pregnancy on the brain are still the greatest in the biological mother.

[20.00] The glorification of motherhood and the expectations that come with that.

[20.23] Matrescence has many similarities to adolescence – we must also look at patrescence.

[30.10] How postpartum depression and postnatal anxiety affect a mother’s brain.

[35.35] There is treatment for postpartum depression that is not medication. This can also lead to neuroplasticity and change in feelings and emotions.

[38.20] There are 6 different types of perinatal depression – we also need to talk about postpartum rage.

[41.00] Education around becoming a mother (not just the birth!) is a must! - So much can happen during birth and early motherhood and it might not go to plan.

[45.45] Exploring yourself and your roots before having a baby so you can be aware of what might come up for you emotionally in motherhood. 

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Thanks so much for listening and for your interest in becoming a happier mother.

Be sure to subscribe to MAMA, UNLEASHED! on your favourite podcast channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more information and tips @DrJenHackerPearson