The image of a mother holding her newborn to her chest, suddenly possessing all the necessary skills and instincts, is romantic, but not entirely realistic. The birth of her first child doesn't automatically transform a woman into a "finished" mother. Rather, it marks the beginning of a phase characterized by neural, hormonal, and psychological restructuring. These "transformational processes" are invisible and can be unsettling.<\/p>\n
Matrescence: The development into motherhood<\/strong><\/p>\n Matrescence, derived from adolescence, describes the comprehensive physical, emotional, and social transformation that women undergo when they become mothers. Like puberty, matrescence is a phase of profound change and adjustment. These changes occur in various areas of life and vary from woman to woman, manifesting themselves in a highly individual way.<\/p>\n The physical levels of matrescence<\/strong><\/p>\n The transition to motherhood brings with it a multitude of physical changes that affect the body in unique ways. Even in the early stages of pregnancy, the organs shift to make room for the growing baby. These changes can lead to a new sense of one's body and sometimes to discomfort as one gradually adapts to the new circumstances.<\/p>\n Hormones also go haywire, and the brain changes. During pregnancy and after childbirth, the female body experiences a complex shift in hormonal balance, which can affect mood and behavior. At the same time, the brain adapts to the new role of motherhood and undergoes a comprehensive reorganization. Studies have shown that the brains of mothers actually change structurally, with a reduction in gray matter. This doesn't mean that women become less intelligent, but rather that other areas of the brain become more pronounced; for example, sensitivity to noise and empathy increase in mothers.<\/p>\n The emotional and psychological levels of matrescence<\/strong><\/p>\n The emotional rollercoaster that comes with motherhood can be overwhelming. From joy and love to exhaustion and insecurity \u2013 the range of feelings is vast.<\/p>\n On a psychological level, motherhood is a journey full of highs and lows, constantly presenting new challenges. The "push and pull" principle, often used in psychology to describe conflicting motivations, is also evident in the context of motherhood. On the one hand, the mother focuses entirely on her baby and develops an intense bond, while at the same time she may struggle with the loss of other parts of her identity and her personal needs.<\/p>\n The social levels of matrescence<\/strong><\/p>\n The transformation into motherhood is not only a personal but also a social experience. Support from family, friends, and communities is invaluable.<\/p>\n Motherhood profoundly changes a woman's relationships. A couple suddenly becomes a family, bringing new roles and challenges. It takes time to sort out one's own and shared needs and to clarify the new tasks and expectations within the family.<\/p>\n Relationships with family and friends also change. Parents become grandparents, and the relationship with one's own parents takes on a new dynamic. Old memories and experiences from childhood resurface and need to be re-evaluated.<\/p>\n Friendships also change: some fade away, while new friendships develop through the child. Motherhood brings both beautiful and challenging moments to a woman's relationships. The support of her partner and social network is crucial for coping with these new challenges and strengthening family bonds.<\/p>\n The professional level of matrescence<\/strong><\/p>\n Professionally, motherhood often means a realignment of priorities and a reorientation of career. Many women opt for part-time work or parental leave after giving birth to spend more time with their child. These decisions are often accompanied by mixed feelings, especially in a society that places high expectations on working mothers.<\/p>\n Reconciling family and career is a constant balancing act that requires flexibility and support. Women must reconcile their professional identity with their role as mothers while coping with the pressures created by societal gender norms. These norms, along with their own desire or financial necessity to work, can trigger feelings of guilt in many mothers. The changing gender roles and the search for new models of work-life balance are important topics that must be continually discussed in the context of motherhood.<\/p>\n Final thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n The period of maternity, the transition from woman to mother, is a unique and transformative experience. Every woman goes through this process in her own way, and there is no right or wrong. It is important to take time to process and accept the changes. From a societal perspective, it is necessary to talk openly about this process and to understand it as a transition. We also understand that teenagers might be going through a rough patch because their hormones are raging, their brains are changing, and they are in a stage between childhood and adulthood. We know that their old life "as a child" will never return. And we need this same understanding and acceptance for women who have just become mothers.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Das Bild der Mutter, die ihr Neugeborenes auf der Brust h\u00e4lt und pl\u00f6tzlich alle F\u00e4higkeiten und Instinkte besitzt, ist romantisch, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":216158,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2129,2088],"tags":[2152,2153],"class_list":["post-216157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-geburt","category-wochenbett","tag-matreszenz","tag-mutterwerden"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n