What does becoming a mother do to your brain, body and sense of self? Anita — currently in her third trimester —  puts that question to science writer Lucy Jones. Lucy spent years studying matrescence, a word for the shift that happens during pregnancy, childbirth and becoming a parent. They talk about Lucy's own path through motherhood and why we need new ways to support mothers through this transformation that never really ends. 

Meet the guest:

- <a href="https://lucyfjones.com/">Lucy Jones</a> is the author of “<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714054/matrescence-by-lucy-jones/">Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood</a>”

<a href="https://www.wunc.org/2026-07-29/matrescence-motherhood-as-metamorphosis-transcript">Read the transcript</a> | Review the podcast on your preferred platform

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Why Black Women’s Disordered Eating Is Overlooked

Dig into the underdiscussed corners of the human experience. Each week, host Anita Rao leads intimate conversations with people unafraid to question what we think we know about identity, relationships and health.Follow the show on Instagram at @embodiedwunc and on Bluesky at embodiedwunc.bsky.social. You can find Anita on Bluesky at asrao.bsky.social.