I had an expectation of myself to still be doing all of the things – to be the ‘good mother’. The washing, shopping, cooking and cleaning, appointments etc, all around constant breastfeeding or with a baby attached to me. I thought that I had to do it all, and because I was struggling, I was failing.

Emma Snelgar 10/20/22 Emma Snelgar 10/20/22

Why I left midwifery

This type of birth culture was not what I had envisioned midwifery to be, and it was not what I had signed up for. I was coming home crying after shifts (and I’m not a big crier), I dreaded each shift and was burnt out. So I left, weeks after finishing my grad program.

Emma Snelgar 8/15/22 Emma Snelgar 8/15/22

Matrescence is a catalyst for growth

Parenting is a minefield and you will receive so many unsolicited opinions and judgement, particularly If you choose to parent in a way that is outside the accepted, mainstream ‘norm’. You can be judged so harshly so you either have to develop really rock-solid boundaries on who you associate with, or a really thick skin, or both

Emma Snelgar 7/17/22 Emma Snelgar 7/17/22

What Is Matrescence?

Matrescence is the transition from woman to mother, much like adolescence is the transition from child to adult. It is the ‘forgotten transition’ as up until recently, has never been acknowledged as something that women need support through.