Welcome to Motherhood!
Life will never be as it was before – motherhood changes not only your body but your mind, your heart, your soul and your identity.
This transition is known as Matrescence.
Matrescence is the understanding of how a woman's identity and sense of self and every part of her changes and continuously changes as she mothers her children.
Welcome to Motherhood!
Pregnancy & Postpartum
During pregnancy, our bodies BUILD BABIES. The foods you eat are the only way both you and your baby get the nutrients needed.
We spend so much time preparing for the birth, but very little (if any) thinking about or planning for what happens afterwards.
Once your new arrival is here, all the focus is on the baby… and the “birth of the mother” herself gets pushed into the background.
The fourth trimester is a period of huge adjustment and change for both you and your baby.
This is a time of recovery and healing and to support the transformational journey of pregnancy to motherhood.
You’re getting to know your baby - their cries, their patterns, learning how to breastfeed, while adjusting to the hormonal, physical and mental changes that are happening within you.
This is a time where you need genuine support around you. People want to support you, and if you indicate what you need in advance, people can decide how they can best respond. This is where the 4th Trimester Plan can be a really useful tool.
What is “normal”?
It’s common for many new parents to have depleted levels of key nutrients. This includes many essential micronutrients such as zinc, vitamin D, iron, magnesium, B12 that are all needed for your body to feel great. This depletion can lead to poor immune function and subsequent issues such as mastitis and poor gut health. It can be a trigger for autoimmune disease and can also be a vicious downward spiral towards postnatal depression.
You’re tired, you might snack on biscuits and toast to get you through the day and the hypervigilance and lack of sleep are starting to wear you down. Your child health nurse or GP may tell you "this is normal, you're a new mum!", but what is "normal" and what is "common" are not the same thing. It is common to see so many new mums walking around like zombies, trying their best to keep up appearances because they think they have to - but it is not normal for this to continue or to interfere with your daily life.
Beyond the Fourth Trimester
While postpartum is often defined as the first few weeks or months after birth, the reality is that the effects can linger long after that. It’s not uncommon for parents to start noticing that something doesn’t feel quite right—not at six weeks, but six months or even a year down the track. The emotional, hormonal and physical shifts of early parenthood can take time to surface, especially once the initial busyness fades and expectations don’t quite match how you're feeling.
And many women are still experiencing these symptoms up to 10 years after having a baby,
You might be experiencing;
Low energy levels and fatigue
Unreasonable guilt, feeling overwhelmed
Memory loss, poor concentration
Irritability or weepiness
Feeling disconnected from your body or its rhythms
Poor gut health
Being susceptible to colds and infections & feeling run-down
Brain fog or “baby brain”
Insomnia and/or non-restful sleep
Loss of skin elasticity, skin dryness, softer nails, thinning hair
Painful periods, PMS, decreased libido
A lot of these symptoms might seem “normal” to experience after giving birth, and there is an adjustment period for sure, but when these signs and symptoms don't improve, or they get worse, then it may be time to get some help.
Book a free 15 minute phone consult
Let’s chat! Book a free 15 minute phone consult to see how I can help you, and what you can expect from working with me. We can also get to know each other and see if we’re the right fit.