A review by serendipitysbooks
Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood by Lucy Jones

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

Matrescence is an exploration of the process of becoming a mother, including pregnancy, childbirth, many aspects of caring for and raising a child, and the impacts this has on women. It was both deeply personal, with the author sharing and reflecting on her own experiences as a mother of 3, and richly researched. I was utterly fascinated by some of the information I learned - that cells from a fetus can remain in a woman's body for decades after birth, and that subsequent babies can have cells of their older siblings within them; that pregnancy changes women's brains to such an extent that scientists can tell with over 90% accuracy whether or not a woman has been pregnant more than six years after her last pregnancy. Other information made me both mad and sad - that women are not fully and accurately informed about the impacts of pregnancy and childbirth - the misnomer that is morning sickness, the horrific very real risks of pelvic floor dysfunctions, the way "natural" childbirth, breastfeeding, and instantly responding to baby's every cry
are promoted as some sort of holy grail, often without much scientific justification, regardless of the cost to mother or baby. And of course the way society is structured, which makes the task of mothering so much more challenging, the way society simultaneously tells mothers their job is the most important while showing them it isn't valued at all. Chapter 13 offers solutions to this and should be required reading for all politicians, employers, and anyone working in the health or social services sectors. Reading this book while my own daughter is pregnant made it even more impactful and reminded me that my own very easy matrescence may not be her experience, and has me thinking how I can best support her in her mothering journey.

Content Warnings