What Is Matrescence? Why Becoming a Mother Changes Everything - Kelsey Green, DNP

What Is Matrescence? Why Becoming a Mother Changes Everything - Kelsey Green, DNP

Author: Sarah Roselinda Trott September 5, 2026 Duration: 53:09

The first step to creating change is often creating awareness - and by giving the shift into motherhood a name, we are raising awareness about how profound the change is.

Becoming a mother can bring enormous love alongside uncertainty, grief for a former life, identity shifts, and a new mental load. Giving this transition a name can make it easier to understand what is changing and ask for the support you need.

Nurse educator and maternal mental-health researcher Kelsey Green, DNP, joins Esther and me to explain what matrescence means, why it continues as children and families change, and how a whole-person view of motherhood can help parents feel less alone.

Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with Kelsey Green Website

Book mentioned Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood by Lucy Jones

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Sarah Trott, a new mother herself, navigates the profound and often overlooked transition into parenthood alongside her postpartum doula and co-host, Esther Gallagher. Their conversations form the heart of Fourth Trimester: The First Months and Beyond. This isn't just a parenting podcast; it's a dedicated space exploring the physical, emotional, and logistical realities of the postpartum period, that critical window after birth where both baby and parents are learning and healing. Esther brings decades of experience as a perinatal educator and care provider, offering grounded wisdom, while Sarah asks the questions from her fresh, personal perspective as a mom to a vibrant baby girl. Together, they delve into topics from newborn care and maternal recovery to mental health and redefining identity, all with a focus on practical support and non-judgmental guidance. Listening feels like being welcomed into an honest, supportive conversation between a trusted mentor and a friend who's in the thick of it. You'll hear their genuine rapport and the tangible benefit of this partnership, as they aim to fill the common gap in care and preparation for life with a new baby. This podcast serves as an audio companion for mothers, fathers, and all caregivers seeking to nurture themselves as they nurture their newborn, moving through the fourth trimester and beyond with more confidence and compassion.
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Fourth Trimester: The First Months and Beyond | Parenting | Newborn Baby | Postpartum | Doula
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