The voyage from maiden to mother is the biggest journey a woman will embark on. It’s a rite of passage that marks the beginning of a new you. While it is clear to see the monumental changes that occur physically to a woman’s body, did you know that equally great changes are occurring to her hormones, nervous system and brain? These big psychological shifts can result in a dichotomy of emotions: one minute overjoyed and feeling a love like never before to the next where anxiety, lack of confidence and overwhelm creep in. Instead of focusing on setting up a nursery and buying the right pram, we need to be preparing a woman for how she is going to feel as she moves through this season of life, and discuss what is happening to her and how she can best be supported. Understanding the changes that are occurring and truly honouring these with space, rest and solid support networks will ensure this journey of “becoming” the mother is as sacred as it should be.
Hormonal changes
One of the biggest biochemical changes that occur when a maiden becomes a mother is the hormonal shifts.
Healthy menstruating maidens have biphasic cycles; the first half is called the follicular phase and the second half is the luteal phase. The
