Matrescence. You've probably never heard the word – and that's precisely the problem.
Coined to describe the profound transformation from woman to mother, matrescence hasn't yet earned a place in everyday vernacular the way ‘adolescence’ or ‘midlife’ have. Cultural campaigns have started challenging this invisibility, with social networking app, Peanut, declaring "IDGAF is in the dictionary, matrescence isn't" in The New York Times – and in doing so, cracked open a long-overdue conversation.
Motherhood is not a single event. It is a prolonged, layered evolution – one that reshapes the mental, physical and hormonal self. It is both beginning and becoming, and yet, for decades, medicine has treated it as neither. The physical changes of matrescence are well-documented; the psychological ones far less so. Brain structure shifts. Hormones fluctuate wildly, then resettle into a new baseline. Identity fractures and reforms. These are not metaphors; they are measurable, documented phenomena. And still, most women navigate them without the vocabulary to name what they are living through.
At Lumity HQ, we know that ‘bouncing back’ after having a baby isn’t possible in the same way that ‘bouncing back’ to a child isn’t possible after puberty. Matrescence marks the largest neurological transformation observed in adulthood, and we are here for you, every step of the way. From our thousands-strong #LumityCollective community to our hormone-balancing Morning & Night supplement, we see your motherhood journey and we’re here to offer holistic, science-backed support.
Matrescence is (Still) Missing from the Dictionary
matrescence
noun | /mæˈtres.əns/
The physical, psychological, and emotional transition into motherhood, encompassing the developmental changes a woman undergoes as she becomes a mother.”
If you crack open your copy of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, you won’t find the above definition – but you will find definitions to IDGAF, snog, rizz, doomscroll and dad bod. Something is missing here.
We believe that words matter. Matrescence refers to the developmental phase that accompanies becoming a mother – encompassing psychological change, identity reformation and physiological transformation. The concept was introduced by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s to capture the idea that motherhood isn’t simply an event but a transition analogous to adolescence: a period of change so profound that it reshapes cognition, emotion and behavior.
Unlike adolescence – broadly recognised, studied and named – matrescence has long been invisible. Only recently have researchers begun to map its contours, noting shifts in brain structure after pregnancy, hormonal recalibration postpartum and the complex mental work of identity negotiation. Studies show that the maternal brain undergoes more neuroplastic change than at any other point in adult life.
The Science of Matrescence
Matrescence doesn't happen in one dimension. It unfolds across the mind, the body and the hormonal system for a full identity shift.
Mental Matrescence
Motherhood reshapes cognition, emotion and identity at their foundations. New research shows that the maternal brain undergoes measurable structural change – grey matter volume increases in regions governing social cognition, sharpening the instincts that support bonding while quietly recalibrating emotional priorities. Alongside this comes something less clinical: grief for a former self, existing in parallel with joy, responsibility and a new kind of vigilance designed to help you respond to your newborn. In a way, mothers are ‘born again’ through motherhood.
Physical Matrescence
Forget toxic tropes about ‘bouncing back’ to your pre-baby body. The body doesn't return to its pre-pregnancy state – it arrives somewhere new. Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding trigger dramatic musculoskeletal and physiological change, and the effects don't neatly resolve when breastfeeding ends. Altered sleep architecture, metabolic shifts, changes in energy and muscular tone – many women report these persisting for years after childbirth.
Hormonal Matrescence
Pregnancy floods the system with oestrogen, progesterone and oxytocin – then postpartum, levels plummet sharply. Breastfeeding sustains certain hormonal profiles while suppressing others, and when it ends, another wave of adjustment begins. The endocrine system doesn't reset overnight; it recalibrates slowly, over months or even years. These downstream effects are tangible: disrupted sleep amplifies anxiety, oestrogen withdrawal affects bone density and skin elasticity, and neurochemical shifts alter mood and cognition in ways that are real but rarely named.
Our clinically proven Morning & Night supplement meets you where you are – supporting sleep, energy, immunity, skin, mood, hormones and more with 28 biologist-selected nutrients.
Meet the New You with Morning & Night
Once pregnancy and breastfeeding are complete, the mind and body continue their work. Hormones are still rebalancing, cognitive patterns are still adapting, and emotional reserves may still feel fragile. This is where intentional nutritional and hormonal support can make a difference – not as a cure, but as a quiet ally working behind the scenes.
Many women describe a longing to feel like themselves again: a sense of centeredness that existed before pregnancy. Supporting the endocrine system and overall wellbeing can help the body transition through the later phases of matrescence with more ease. Emerging research highlights the importance of micronutrients, adaptogens and botanical support in regulating cortisol, balancing neurotransmitters and supporting energy metabolism. Morning & Night can complement lifestyle, sleep, movement and community – all integral to postnatal adaptation.
Morning & Night combines morning and nighttime support to align with your circadian rhythm, delivering key nutrients when the body needs them most. Morning focuses on clarity, energy and hormonal balance; Night supports restorative sleep, stress resilience and overnight repair. Together, they acknowledge that the post-childbirth body is in flux – supporting rather than suppressing this delicate process.
In 2013, Dr Sara Palmer Hussey had just given birth to her first child – she was feeling depleted, tired and in need of additional energy and immune support, but she was dissatisfied with supplements already on the market. As a Cambridge-educated PhD biologist, Sara engineered a dual-formula approach to support hormonal balance, stress modulation and restorative sleep – all essential to postnatal adaptation. Her goal was not to ‘fix’ motherhood, but to support the body’s innate capacity to recalibrate.
Her clinical background informed the selection of Morning & Night’s micronutrients, botanical extracts and co-factors – chosen to complement the body’s circadian rhythm and endocrine function. Her dual dose-design was formulated to work in synergy: Morning supports hormonal equilibrium and energy, and Night supports relaxation and restoration. Together, they reflect an understanding that the postnatal transition unfolds over time, and support should be both strategic and compassionate.
Glasette co-founder and the “arbiter of what’s hot, from parties to home decor” with “the coolest lifestyle in Britain” according to The Times, Laura Jackson is a Morning & Night subscriber and longtime friend of Lumity.
Laura has written extensively about her matrescence experience for publications like Sheerluxe and Grazia, describing the transition as “a journey of unlearning and re-becoming,” emphasising that the transformation extends far beyond the ninth month. She’s spoken about her need for community (she is the queen of the dinner party, after all) and keeping Morning & Night in her wellness arsenal – the foundational supplement she relies on to keep her feeling like (the new, improved, mother) Laura.
As the brand behind the UK's original and bestselling longevity supplement, we know that it really does take a village.
With 28 biologist-selected nutrients, allow us to be invisible ally that supports your sleep, skin, energy, immunity, hormones, mood and more.
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It is never easy getting older, but I've found that taking Morning & Night has definitely given me more energy, my skin is starting to have a glow and most importantly, I am now having an undisturbed sleep at night.
Everything You Need To Know About Lumity
Choosing Lumity means choosing results, simplicity, and long-term support. Our clinically backed Morning & Night formula delivers essential nutrients in sync with your body’s natural rhythm — helping you feel your best through every stage of life, including menopause. When you subscribe, you’ll save 20% instantly, receive a FREE luxury Starter Kit with refillable glass bottles (worth £25), and enjoy free UK delivery on all orders. Our zero-hassle subscription keeps you consistent — and consistency is key. Commit to 12 weeks and experience real, lasting benefits: improved energy, sleep, skin, immunity, and overall wellness.
Lumity supports you at a cellular level, every day, without the guesswork
Morning & Night contains three key amino acids related to healthy hair growth and condition; Cysteine, Arginine and Lysine; as well as Selenium, Biotin and Zinc, which also support strong and healthy hair. In our Clinical Trial, 92% of participants noticed improved hair quality after 12 weeks of consistent use.
Everyone's chemical composition is entirely unique, so while some people may notice benefits in the first few weeks of use, others may need to wait longer before seeing results. Our supplement is designed to work at a cellular level, and as with any other supplement, it takes around 12 weeks of consistent use to experience the full range of benefits. You can learn more about the science behind Morning & Night here.
Softgel capsules offer optimum protection and bioavailability of the active ingredients in Morning and Night and stop the nutrients degrading. Softgels are comfortable to swallow and melt in the stomach within 3 to 4 minutes, freeing the active ingredients and delivering fast absorption of the formula.
Morning & Night is designed to work in harmony with the body's circadian rhythm, which means the Morning and Night softgels work on different processes in the body and in conjunction with each other to deliver the best results. You need to take both halves of the formula for it to work optimally and for you to experience the full range of benefits.
