About Us What is Matrescence?
Speakers Therapy Private Workshops Digital Workshops
Resources Blog

We provide specialised antenatal classes and workshops for parents and professionals.

Our unique, mother-centred, maternal health workshops support women through matrescence - their transition to motherhood.

We are proud to offer comprehensive workshops founded on evidence-based research, lived experiences and attachment theory. This framework focuses on supporting the wellbeing of mums, birthing people, partners and support people before and after the birth of their children.

We offer antenatal classes in Christchurch and online. Our postpartum support and professional workshops are available online.

Matrescence NZ is approved for education by the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.

Maternal Health Antenatal Workshops Matrescence Christchurch NZ
 

Becoming a mum can be one of the most transformative experiences for a woman. The changes that occur during pregnancy and postpartum are profound and occur swiftly.

What distinguishes us from other antenatal and
maternal health workshops? We focus on:

 
 

Postpartum: The Fourth Trimester

Our christchurch and online antenatal classes are focused on the first few months with your newborn. The birth and labour last a few days, with experts right there to assist you, but the weeks and months following are longer and sometimes feel lonely. We share where to find support, what support is available and strategies to assist you in the fourth trimester.

Parental Well-being

Current maternal support in New Zealand is heavily focused on your baby. We are mum-centered and extremely passionate about supporting you, so that you are best prepared to take care of yourself as well as your baby.

We also offer a whole section just for Dads, support people, and partners, delivered by a Dad! We discuss concepts such as managing your own well-being, common stressors and how to overcome them, as well as how to support your partner. There will be an opportinity for informal discussion and questions.

Mental Health & The Emotional Journey

Feedback from mothers overwhemingly identifies that the mental, emotional, and psychological aspects to motherhood are the most challenging. We aim to address these matters with empathy and compassion as well as share strategies in order to provide you with the necessary tools to support your well-being.

We work towards reducing postpartum depression, anxiety, birth trauma and other perinatal mental health conditions.

Evidence-based Strategies

We are eager to provide quality, evidence-based information by staying up to date with the latest research.

Our workshops are delivered by a range of experts. You are receiving the highest-quality education from professionals who are up to date with the latest research in their fields, including pelvic health physiotherapists, holisitc sleep support, a midwife and a psychologist.

Matrescence

Never heard of it? That’s okay, the concept was new to us as we began our journey into motherhood. Matrescence is a developmental phase, a psychological concept. Most importantly, it is a process, a journey. Matrescence is your emotional, spiritual, physical, biological, social, political and psychological experience of motherhood. It is entirely unique to you and your circumstances, yet it enables you to connect with other mothers. Please visit our matrescence page for further explanation. We are excited to share this with you.

Birth & Labour, Feeding & Sleep

Our birth and labour section is designed and delivered by a qualified midwife. As well as typical birth and labour preparation we also cover the most common challenges parents face and strategies to overcome these including feeding and sleep for mum, support person and baby!

 We offer workshops for parents-to-be, parents and professionals:

Antenatal Classes Christchurch

Pregnant: Antenatal Classes for Parents-to-be

Mothers Workshops Christchurch

Mothers: Workshops, Education & Support Groups

Maternal Mental Health Workshop Christchurch

Professionals: Maternal Mental Health Workshops

 

The community that worked alongside us to create these workshops include a psychologist, teacher, midwife, feeding consultant, holistic sleep specalists, mothers and mums-to-be. We are grateful for the endorsement of the professionals and families whom we work with as they reinforce the quality and authenticity of our workshops

 

Matrescence NZ is proud to work alongside PADA, MHERC, Maternal Psychology, and Perinatal Wellbeing and approved for education by the Midwifery Council.

 Our Vision

A society that values mothers and has the infrastructure in place to adequately support them through the changes and challenges of motherhood.

Our Mission

For all Mums to be psychologically prepared and adequately supported for motherhood. To enable mothers to feel validated in investing in themselves instead of falling victim to the commodification of motherhood.

unsplash-image-_H1ZmUzwp9w.jpeg