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

Matrescence speaks aloud what is often left unspoken - the profound transformation that unfolds when a person becomes a parent. Lucy Jones blends memoir, science, and cultural critique to explore how pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood reshape the body, brain, identity, relationships, and our very sense of self.

This book offers:

• A deeply honest, research‑driven look at motherhood - drawing on neuroscience, evolutionary biology, sociology, and lived experience to reveal the depth and complexity of “matrescence.”

• A compassionate deconstruction of myths around mothering - challenging idealized, pastel‑hued images of pregnancy and parenting, and instead acknowledging the intensity, unpredictability, and transformative power of this life transition.

• A call to reconceptualize care, identity, and societal expectations - interrogating how patriarchal and capitalist systems shape motherhood, while inviting readers to imagine more compassionate, collective, and realistic ways of supporting parents.

More than a parenting guide or memoir, Matrescence is a mirror for anyone experiencing (or expecting) motherhood - a book that holds space for vulnerability, growth, realness, and the messy, beautiful truth of becoming a parent. It is a thoughtful companion for reflection, insight, and gentle guidance during one of life’s most transformative journeys.

Publisher: Penguin Books
Format / Pages: Paperback, 320 pages
Language: English
Year: 2023