When Motherhood Triggers Chronic Illness

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By Jenny Peterson

So you became a mom, and suddenly your body started breaking down.

The fatigue.The anxiety.The palpitations.The mystery symptoms no doctor can explain...

They didn’t come out of nowhere. And they’re not just “postpartum hormones” or a sign that you’re getting older.

They’re messages.

And in this post, I’m breaking down the hidden link between motherhood and chronic symptoms that no one’s talking about—plus why your body might be screaming because you’ve refused to let go of who you used to be.

Here’s what we’re diving into today:

• Why so many women develop chronic symptoms after becoming a mother

• The subconscious patterns keeping you stuck

• What your body is really trying to say—and how to finally listen

When Did Your Symptoms Really Begin?

If you trace back to when your symptoms actually started, you’ll likely find a major life shift: motherhood.

For some women, symptoms start right after birth.For others, it’s when the baby becomes a toddler, they go back to work, or have their second or third child.

But the pattern is clear. She becomes a mom, and the body starts to break down:

• Fatigue

• Anxiety

• Digestive issues

• Skin flare-ups

• Hormonal imbalances

• Food sensitivities

These aren’t random. They’re not something you “caught.”They’re messages from your body.

The Truth Most Women Avoid

Here’s the hard truth (and I say this with love, not shame):

Most women become mothers and still try to be the woman they were before.

You try to:

• Be productive 24/7

• Push through your needs

• Say yes when you want to scream no

• Carry the mental load of the household

• Feel guilty for resting

• Refuse to ask for help

You’re clinging to the identity of being “capable” and “strong” while bypassing the woman you are now.

That misalignment? That’s what creates symptoms.

The more you override your body, the louder it gets. Because the symptom isn’t the problem—the disconnection is.

After I had my son, I was still trying to do it all—run my wellness center, be the organic mom, cook every meal from scratch, even make my own almond milk. I believed I had to do it all perfectly.

Even after I sold my business, I couldn’t just “be.” I felt like I needed to prove my worth beyond motherhood.

Eventually, my body said, enough.

I had my first panic attack—and everything spiraled. That was the wake-up call. I had to grieve the old version of me and embrace the woman I had become.

I had to lower my expectations. Delegate. Say no. Set boundaries with myself. Because I was the one creating the pressure. I was the one adding stress in the name of being a “good” mom.

And you know what? My son was sick all the time—not because of his food, but because of the energy I was bringing into our home: stress, pressure, perfectionism.

Where These Patterns Begin

You didn’t just wake up one day and decide to suppress your needs.

These patterns are inherited. Conditioned. Subconscious.

Maybe your mom did it all. Maybe you heard things like:

• “Moms don’t get sick.”

• “You rest when the work is done.”

• “Don’t be lazy.”

• “If you want it done right, do it yourself.”

Society reinforces it all: The Pinterest crafts. The organic lunches. The spotless house. The smiling selfies. The hustle.

We’ve inherited a legacy of self-abandonment. And when you become a mother, that legacy gets activated.

You don’t parent based on what you need—you parent based on what you saw.

One of the most common things I hear from clients is: “I’m overwhelmed.”

But overwhelm is a symptom. The question is: What’s underneath it?

It’s often:

• Perfectionism

• Fear of asking for help

• Guilt for resting

Take Lisa, one of our clients. She had palpitations, anxiety, and digestive issues. On the outside, her life looked perfect. But she was drowning inside.

She thought a clean house meant love. Productivity meant worth.

Her palpitations weren’t random. They were her body’s way of adapting to internal pressure.

Once she started dismantling those patterns and taking new action—asking for help, resting without guilt, and redefining her worth—her symptoms went away.

That’s real healing.

Your Body Isn’t Broken. It’s Communicating.

If you’re trying to live like the woman you were before kids, without recalibrating your nervous system, your needs, and your identity, your body will eventually hit the brakes.

Symptoms are your soul’s signal: You’re disconnected. You’re abandoning yourself. Something’s off.

You can chase every supplement or diet on the planet, or you can pause and ask:

• What part of me am I still trying to hold onto?

• Who am I trying to prove something to?

• Who would I be if I allowed myself to change?

Healing happens when you let go of the version of you that’s no longer true.

What the Shift Looks Like in Real Life

The shift might look like:

• Saying no to school volunteering

• Letting your partner cook dinner

• Taking a nap instead of cleaning

• Letting go of guilt around screen time

• Sitting down to eat instead of standing at the counter

• Speaking up when you're overwhelmed

For me, it meant:

• Creating a dinner schedule with my husband

• Giving my son age-appropriate responsibilities

• Delegating tasks at home and in business

• Setting boundaries with myself—like only putting 3 things on my to-do list

It’s not about being lazy. It’s about honoring what keeps you—and your family—healthy.

This Isn’t About Guilt. It’s About Awareness.

Let go of shame. Let go of comparison. Get honest with yourself.

Because when you change the environment that created your symptoms, your body will finally feel safe enough to heal.

If your symptoms started after becoming a mother, it’s not your hormones. It’s not bad luck. It’s not because you’re broken.

It’s because your soul is asking for a new way of being.

So here’s your reflection question:

👉 What is one way you’re still trying to be who you were before becoming a mother—and what might shift if you let that go?

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Jenny Peterson is a Chronic Illness Expert and the Founder of MBR (Mind Body Rewire). She helps those struggling with multiple chronic symptoms reclaim their health and freedom—without diets, detoxes, or pills.

For 10 years, Jenny worked as a holistic practitioner, relying on supplements, diet, and detox protocols to support healing. But when she faced her own chronic health struggles, those methods failed her.

Determined to find a real solution, she turned to mind-body healing. Using the very techniques she now teaches, Jenny fully resolved Lyme disease, digestive issues, panic attacks, skin conditions, cystitis, and more. Her own transformation ignited a mission: to help others break free from chronic symptoms and take back control of their health.

Ready to say good-bye to symptoms and hello to freedom?  START HERE