Bringing a new life into this world is a magical thing. But from pregnancy into motherhood, it's a time of profound change for women

In many ways we leave behind the life we had before, starting a new journey, which will be filled with tears and laughter.

The thing is, from the moment prospective parents find out they are expecting, everything is focused on the new baby.

Of course, it’s incredibly exciting, and we all want to do the best we can for our children.

We take courses about the birth, and how to look after them. Buy a million things we may or may not need. And generally, spend all our time thinking and planning about when they will arrive.

But what we miss here, is how their arrival will affect us a person.

Matrescence is...

The name given to the changes a woman goes through from pregnancy and into motherhood. Not many people know this term, including about 99% of the women who have gone through it.

But it’s an incredibly important word, as it helps us to describe the journey a women will go through.

Scientists have been able to show that the mental and physical changes a woman will go through during her Matrescence, are just as powerful as when we become teenagers.

Yet, there is so little discussion around this change, so then its not surprising that so many women feel overwhelmed when they go through it.

We created MAIA to support new mothers through this profound change

MAIA takes women from 3 months into their pregnancy, right up until their child is 24 months old, this is the key period that women may need more help with their mental health and wellbeing, and we will be there every step of the way. Providing education, support and community. 

The cornerstone of MAIA is to empower new mothers through education.

Knowledge really is power and understanding what we may experience can make a vast difference to the mental health and wellbeing of new mothers.

So too will teaching women a science-based tool kit they can reply on to help them support themselves with things are tough.

Our mission is to provide women with insights to help them stay mentally and physically well at a very demanding time.

Understanding Matrescence is key to

self-compassion… 

When faced with changes they do not understand, amidst the pressures of looking after a new baby, it is easy for new mothers to fall into the trap of thinking there is something wrong with them. Potentially adding to their feelings of overwhelm and isolation.  

By educating women about these changes our Matrescence coach Katrina Court gives them the space and time to consider how becoming a mother might impact them mentally, physically and socially, we are empowering them to know they are not alone in their experiences and to be ready for the transitions, in the same way we would when a child grows into a teenager and we prepare them and support their through their adolescence.  

Supporting positive Maternal Mental Health... 

Becoming a new mother is hard. Really hard. And to some degree most women’s mental health will be impacted. But there are things we can do to help support positive mental health. Our mental health trainer Louisa Glover explains what can be useful and invites women and their partners to create a wellbeing action plan so they have ideas in place to look after themselves when the baby comes.  

Of course, sometimes mothers will need some extra support, Louisa takes a look at what common feelings and emotions women may experience, as well as exploring the more serious things women may suffer with, explaining what to look out for and when it is important to reach out to your GP or midwife for support. 

Calming a whirling mothers mind...

Becoming a mother is full of highs and lows and what can feel like a million thoughts a day. The mental load gets turned on in a big way and can lead to feelings overwhelm and exhaustion.

Our Mindful teacher Dr Antonia Dingle teaches practices that will allow mothers to ease stress and reducing feelings of anxiety. By just taking a few moments each day to practice mindfulness women will be able to find a calm and grounding space to build into a valuable routine. Antonia shares practices that are simple and easy to do, with worksheets to follow in our MAIA journal too.

Sometimes you need stress relief and fast…

Breathwork is like a secret superpower for mothers, it can instantly shift their energy and help them feel more grounded.

Our Breathwork Coach Karen Farrell teaches women the power of deep, intentional breathing, to calm their nervous system, making it easier to navigate moments of frustration or exhaustion.

It also boosts oxygen flow, helping their body recover and feel more energised. Breathwork can enhance emotional resilience, giving women a way to process big feelings without feeling overwhelmed. And the best part? It’s always available for fast relief just when its needed, anytime anywhere.

The physical demands of carrying a baby and then caring for that newborn take a lot from a woman’s body...

Our Nutritionist Catherine Pohl shows women how they can help support their bodies recovery after growing and birthing their baby, how to eat to have more sustained energy and support their mental health.

As well as how to eat a healthy balanced diet, that’s quick and simple when short of time.

Plus, a little trick on how to be able to enjoy a slice of cake (a new mother’s right) without crashing their blood sugar levels!

When you’ve spent years building your career, taking a break from work can be daunting for many women... 

Our Maternity Leave Coach Frances Cushway shares key tips to help mothers feel more in control and ready for a smooth transition when it comes to taking maternity leave. 

She prepares them on what to consider while they are off, and how to make that move back to work, making sure they can still keep their goals in place, or indeed change what they look like. Helping women to plan and think about how logistics will work when they return to their roles at work.  

It’s all about making sure women can achieve what they want to do for themselves and their new family. 

More than anything else, new mothers cite sleep deprivation as the main issue effecting their mental health....

Sleep is one of the most import pillars of wellbeing, and its well known that new mothers sleep can really suffer, but there are things we can do to try and improve the sleep patterns of babies, if you understand the basics of sleep.

Our Sleep Coach Nicole Ratcliffe explains sleep 101, keeping babies safe, explaining how sleep cycles work, supporting parents into routines. How to trouble shoot when things aren’t going to plan.

With a knowledge of sleep routines and patterns parents can feel more confident and empowered, and most importantly get more sleep!

Support

Reaching out for support can be difficult for new mothers, they may not feel like they are able to, or find the time, or just know where to look. And unfortunately, sometimes when they do reach out for help it doesn’t come. The NHS is struggling to cope with the level of demand they are facing, and this has a direct impact on maternal health, with some mothers waiting over a year to get support, and figures from NHS freedom of information requests showed nearly 20k women were denied support when they asked for it.  

We are working in partnership with Maternal Mental Health Psychotherapists, Laura Greenwood Therapy, to offer support if a woman needs it. MAIA will include an assessment with the specialist therapists and then they can see if they need further support which can be arranged, privately or through their employer.

This will give the women the time and space to talk about how they are feeling and any birth trauma they may have experienced, or just simply give them a chance to let out their emotions with someone who understands and will not judge them.

Sadly many women will lose their babies before birth, or at a young age. This is an incredibly difficult time for women and their partners. We have formed a partnership with The Firgrove Centre. They provide a compassionate and caring service for seeking help with the impact of miscarriage, stillbirth, neo-natal death or sudden infant death (SID) Included with MAIA is the coordination of an initial support session with one of their counsellors, once this has taken place then they can offer a longer treatment which can be organised through their employer or privately. By having this support in place we hope to make it a bit faster for women to access the right help they need.

Community

Our online community is all about creating a warm, welcoming community for mums who might feel a bit isolated on their motherhood journey.

Pregnancy and motherhood can be tough, especially without a strong support network, but our group offers a space to connect, share, and encourage one another.

It’s a safe, judgment-free zone to talk about everything—joys, worries, and all the emotions in between.

Whether it’s a tough day or a big win, you’ll find understanding, validation, and support from women who truly get it. And the opportunity to share victories, big or small—so we can celebrate every milestone together.

We will also use the daily and weekly interactions in the community to help embed the huge amount of knowledge that the mothers will learn throughout their MAIA education. So they remember all the coping strategies and support tools just when they need them.