The Birth of a Mother
The Birth of a Mother.
There is a name for it - “Matrescence"
The birth of a baby creates with it the birth of a mother. It is an identity shift and a monumental transition for the mother, both physically and psychologically.
It is a beautiful transition, but can leave the mother feeling vulnerable and a little untethered.
I remember feeling such a dramatic sense of loss of self with my first babe. At the time, I didn’t know how to process it, and to be honest, felt guilty and ashamed for feeling it. I mean, how could I love someone so much, and yet at the same time feel such grief about not knowing who I was?
With time, I embodied my new role and sense of self, however even now, four babies in, and I still feel a slight shift - a recalibration of self.
New moms - here is my “seasoned” mom wisdom on how to navigate this:
• Acknowledge this identify shift and give yourself grace and space in doing so - this is something I do almost daily often during a walk, movement or breath session;
• Talk to your family, friends and health care team about how you’re feeling - I have a counsellor as well as a mindset coach to help me come back to self, my values, and my purpose, and also to remind me that life is not linear and that we can, in fact, exist in dualities (more on this later);
• Spend time with friends/family as much as you’re able to - I try to schedule a walk or coffee with friends/family almost daily as social connection is a big part of what makes me me;
• Do something daily that makes you feel like you - for me that’s some kind of movement, and also a little work while the baby sleeps because truth be told, I love to work🤷♀️
Other seasoned moms - tell me, how did you navigate this identity shift? Let’s share our experiences in the comments to let new moms know they are not alone, and give them some advice on how to navigate this monumental shift♥️