There is a word for what happens when you become a mother. Not just physically. Not just emotionally. But entirely.
It’s called ‘Matrescence’.
First coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s, matrescence describes the profound transition into motherhood — a developmental phase as significant as adolescence, yet rarely spoken about with the same depth, nuance, or support. For decades, it remained largely overlooked. Not because it wasn’t happening — but because it wasn’t being named.
Now, it’s finally entering the conversation. And for many women, that recognition changes everything.
What Is Matrescence, Really?
Matrescence is a process. It begins in pregnancy, but continues well beyond — unfolding across months, years, and often, a lifetime. It is hormonal, neurological, psychological, social and deeply personal. It is the shift from who you were, to who you are becoming.
Your body changes. Your brain rewires. Your priorities recalibrate. Your sense of self expands — and sometimes detracts.
As our founder Elle has shared in her book, motherhood reshaped her priorities, her relationship to her body, and her approach to self-care — inviting a deeper, more conscious way of living.
This is matrescence. Not a loss of identity — but a reconfiguration of it. A remembrance of who we are in our natural form: Creators. Love. Light.
Why Was It Overlooked For So Long?
For something so universal, matrescence has historically been invisible. The reason is cultural.
Motherhood has long been framed as instinctive — something women should “naturally” know how to do. The expectation has been quiet resilience, rather than supported transformation.
Where adolescence is recognised as a time of upheaval and growth, motherhood has often been positioned as a role you simply step into. It’s meant to be seamless. Effortless. Without question. But the reality is far more complex.
Without language, women have internalised the experience — often interpreting emotional shifts, identity changes, or physical depletion as personal shortcomings, rather than natural transitions.
Now, thankfully, that narrative is shifting.
In recent years, the wellness industry — alongside a new wave of maternal health advocates — has begun to reframe motherhood as a dynamic, evolving life stage.
Brands and platforms like Motherkind, The Fourth Trimester movement, and clinicians such as Dr Oscar Serrallach have helped bring matrescence into public discourse. At the same time, women are sharing more openly — across podcasts, Substacks and social platforms — creating a collective language for what was once experienced in isolation.
This shift reflects something deeper. A move away from performative perfection, and toward honest, embodied wellbeing. And importantly, a recognition that motherhood is not just about caring for a child — but about supporting the mother.
What Happens To The Body During Matrescence?
Matrescence is biological as much as it is emotional. Hormones fluctuate dramatically — not just during pregnancy, but in the months and years that follow. Estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, prolactin — all recalibrating. Sleep is disrupted. Nutrient stores are depleted. Energy demands increase.
At the same time, the brain undergoes structural changes — enhancing empathy, vigilance and emotional processing. This is not dysfunction. It is adaptation. But without support, it can feel overwhelming.
Many women describe:
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Shifts in mood and emotional sensitivity
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Changes in metabolism and energy levels
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Skin, hair and gut health fluctuations
- A heightened awareness of stress and nervous system load
These are signals. Not problems to suppress, but messages to understand.
Learning To Read Your Body Again
One of the most powerful aspects of matrescence is the invitation to reconnect with your body. Not as something to “bounce back” — but as something to listen to. Your body communicates constantly: Fatigue can signal depletion. Irritability can reflect nervous system overload. Cravings can point to nutritional gaps. When understood, these signals become guidance.
Elle often speaks about her own wellness journey in a similar way, in that once she started listening to her body, rather than overriding it, everything changed. Wellness became something she experienced — not something she chased.
Matrescence creates that opportunity. To tune in. To recalibrate. To build a relationship with your body that is based on awareness, not expectation.
Matrescence asks more of women — and therefore, requires more support. Not just in moments of crisis, but as an ongoing, holistic framework. This includes:
Nutritional support
Replenishing what has been depleted. Supporting energy, hormonal balance and cellular repair.
Emotional support
Space to process identity shifts, without judgement or urgency to “return” to a previous version of self.
Nervous system support
Practices that regulate stress, restore calm, and create moments of stillness.
Community
Connection with other women experiencing the same transition — reducing isolation and normalising the experience.
This philosophy sits at the core of everything we create at WelleCo — supporting women not just in how they look, but in how they feel.
Supporting Matrescence Through Daily Routine
Wellness during matrescence is not about doing more. It is about choosing what supports you — consistently. Small, daily rituals and routines that can create a foundation for balance, energy, resilience and joy.
The Super Elixir™
A daily greens blend designed to support energy, gut health and overall vitality. In a phase where your body is adapting and recalibrating, consistent nourishment becomes essential. With over 45+ natural ingredients sourced globally, it offers a simple, dependable way to support your system from within.
The Nourishing Protein
Protein becomes increasingly important during and after pregnancy — supporting muscle repair, blood sugar balance, and sustained energy. A clean, plant-based protein can help stabilise energy throughout the day, especially when routines are unpredictable.
Targeted Hormone Support
Our PMS Elixir and Goddess Elixir are each formulated to support hormonal balance, mental calm and mood — areas many women feel shifts in during matrescence (not recommended for use while pregnant or breastfeeding). In consumer studies of women experiencing signs of perimenopause, 95% of participants noticed a more balanced mood, and 84% felt calmer after four weeks of taking The Goddess Elixir.
These are not quick fixes. They are tools — designed to support your body as it moves through change.
A New Narrative Of Motherhood
Matrescence invites a different perspective on motherhood. Not as a role you perform — but as a transformation you move through. It allows space for complexity. For growth. For recalibration. And importantly, it creates permission.
Permission to take care of yourself. Permission to evolve. Permission to feel both grounded and undone, at the same time.
Because this phase is not about returning to who you were.
It is about becoming someone new.