You’ve always been a naturally slender woman that doesn’t gain weight easily. While you never thought you’d have a problem with putting on weight, it’s caught you by surprise how much your body has changed during pregnancy.

Suddenly, you’ve put on weight around your face, upper and lower body, your breasts have changed shape, and your shoes barely fit you anymore!

If your body is noticeably changing in appearance during your pregnancy, remember that this is one of the most expected parts of growing a new life! While some women may love their new curves, others may find them difficult to adapt to.

However you feel about your pregnancy body, it can be comforting to know that there's a term to describe the experience you’re going through: Matrescence.

What is matrescence?

Matrescence is a term to describe the identity shift that can happen during pregnancy when a person's body stops feeling like their own. It’s not unlike the feelings a person can experience during adolescence, when their body is starting to significantly change for the first time.

How should I cope with going through matrescence?

For many women, matrescence may be the first time that they aren’t actively trying to lose weight. Matrescence can be a challenging time for many pregnant women, but it’s also an opportunity to heal a difficult relationship with your body.

Here are some tips to help you with matrescence:

Ask your practitioner to be sensitive with the way they weigh you. If you are finding the process of weighing in at every prenatal visit distressing, then ask your practitioner to simply tell you whether you’re weighing in at a healthy rate without telling you the specifics. You can also stand on the scale with your back to the display so you don’t have to see the numbers appear.

Tell your practitioner if you have struggled with an eating disorder in the past. If you have had an eating disorder in the past, it’s important you communicate this to your provider, even if you find it painful or embarrassing to talk about. Remember you and your baby’s health could be affected by this, as eating enough calories is essential for a baby’s growth.

If your doctor believes you’re not gaining enough or gaining too much weight, it might be helpful to reflect on any difficult emotions you could be experiencing. If your doctor is concerned about your weight, but can’t find a medical reason behind this, reflecting on your emotions could be helpful. This is because you may be eating beyond hunger in order to soothe difficult feelings.

Consulting with a therapist to help you through this time can be very helpful. There is nothing like talking through your feelings to reach an understanding as to why you’re struggling. Even if you’ve tried therapy and believe it isn’t for you, you might be surprised at the results it brings over time.

What is matrescence?

Matrescence is your ascent into motherhood. Unii covers the physical pregnant element of the shift here.