Everyone’s experience of matrescence will be different, but a few defining changes take place during this period – especially inside the brain.

1. Your prefrontal cortex gets bigger

Researchers have found that new mums experience an increase in grey matter – a type of brain tissue – in several areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex.

“The term ‘baby brain’ suggests that we have a kind of lobotomy when we give birth, but it’s actually the opposite,” Blaskey said. “Your prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision making, planning and prioritising, actually gets bigger, which is why mothers are brilliant [at juggling everything].”

2. Your capacity for empathy increases

It’s normal to feel extra sensitive as a new mum – it’s the result of changes within the amygdala, the brain region responsible for processing emotions.

“The part of the brain responsible for compassion and empathy gets bigger when we become parents, which makes complete sense,” Blaskey said. “It can feel like your skin has come off, and you’re sensitive to everything. Before having a baby, I could watch a sad TV show and be like, ‘OK’, but my matrescence brain was completely different.”

She continued: “It’s because your brain takes you from a ‘me’ focus to a ‘we’ focus. So, you start to think about the world in a completely different way.”

3. You’re more likely to feel fearful

The amygdala is also important for controlling our fear response, which means the growth we experience after becoming a mum can lead to increased anxiety and a heightened sense of danger.

“We have an increased ability to scan for threats,” Blaskey said. “That’s why mums can walk into a room and see all the potential dangers. But sometimes that instinct can go a bit overboard, and that’s when we get intrusive thoughts. You know that feeling when you’re carrying your baby down the stairs and think, ‘What would happen if I dropped them?’ A large number of mothers have experienced these types of thoughts.”

Matrescence: 3 ways becoming a mum transforms your body and brain – and how to deal with it