MATRESCENCE COACHING: Postnatal Depletion and Baby Blues

MATRESCENCE COACHING | POSTNATAL DEPLETION, BABY BLUES & ADJUSTING TO MOTHERHOOD Exhausted, emotional, overwhelmed or wondering why you don't quite feel like yourself after having a baby? The postnatal period can involve an enormous amount of change. Your body is recovering, hormones are shifting, sleep may be fragmented, your relationships and routines have changed – and you're simultaneously learning how to care for your baby. Alongside this, you are going through matrescence: the physical, emotional, psychological and identity transition of becoming a mother. In this longer Matrescence Coaching session, Kelly explores postnatal depletion and the "baby blues", helping you understand some of the factors that may contribute to feeling physically and emotionally depleted after birth. This isn't about suggesting that exhaustion, low mood or struggling should simply be accepted as part of motherhood. Instead, the session creates space to understand what you may be experiencing, consider your own needs and recognise when additional support may be needed. IN THIS SESSION 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction 04:30 – Understanding the Postnatal Transition 09:00 – What Is Matrescence? 14:00 – Postnatal Depletion 20:00 – Physical & Emotional Demands After Birth 26:00 – Understanding the Baby Blues 32:00 – Hormones, Sleep & Emotional Changes 38:00 – Expectations Versus Reality of Motherhood 44:00 – Recognising Your Own Needs 49:30 – Support, Connection & Asking for Help 54:30 – Looking After Yourself During Matrescence 58:30 – Reflection & Key Takeaways 1:00:16 – End BENEFITS OF THIS SESSION 🌿 Explores why the postnatal period can feel physically and emotionally demanding. 💛 Introduces postnatal depletion and the baby blues. ✨ Places early motherhood within the wider transition of matrescence. 🌸 Encourages awareness of your needs without judgement. 🤍 Highlights the importance of support and knowing when to seek further help. HOW TO USE THIS SESSION ✔ You don't need to watch the whole session at once. ✔ Pause and return when you have the time or emotional capacity. ✔ Notice what resonates without feeling you need to relate to everything. ✔ Use the questions and ideas for reflection rather than self-diagnosis. ✔ Reach out for support if you're struggling rather than feeling you need to manage alone. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KELLY Kelly Thistlethwaite, BSc (Hons), is Co-Founder of FLY Mama, a Trauma-Informed Matrescence Coach, Perinatal Yoga and Breathwork Teacher, and Nervous System Education and Regulation Specialist. Kelly supports women through pregnancy, birth, motherhood and difficult reproductive experiences using coaching, breathwork and trauma-informed practices. Explore Kelly's current work: 🔗 https://linktr.ee/kellythistlethwaite SAFE CLINICAL GUIDANCE The "baby blues" commonly describes temporary emotional changes in the early days following birth. Feeling tearful, overwhelmed or emotionally changeable can occur during this period. However, persistent or worsening low mood, anxiety, inability to cope, frightening or intrusive thoughts, significant changes in behaviour, or concerns about your ability to care for yourself or your baby should not simply be attributed to the baby blues. "Postnatal depletion" is a term sometimes used to describe ongoing physical and emotional exhaustion after pregnancy and birth; it is not itself a formal medical diagnosis. Symptoms such as persistent fatigue can have many causes and deserve appropriate assessment. This coaching session is educational and supportive and does not replace individual medical, psychological or mental health care. If you are concerned about your mental health, speak to your GP, midwife, health visitor or an appropriate mental health professional. Seek urgent help if you or someone around you is concerned about your immediate safety or the safety of your baby. LIABILITY & ARCHIVED CONTENT STATEMENT This video forms part of the FLY Mama Legacy Library and was originally recorded while the FLY Mama platform was live between 2020 and 2026. The information was created in good faith and, to the best of our knowledge, reflected appropriate evidence and professional guidance at the time. This content is for educational and general wellbeing purposes only and does not replace individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Healthcare guidance may change, so please seek appropriate professional advice for your circumstances. FLY Mama, Kelly Thistlethwaite, Michelle Norton-Hughes and individual contributors accept no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from participation in or reliance upon this content. MUSIC NOTICE Some sessions may include background music captured naturally during filming. This music is incidental and remains the property of the original copyright holders.