You Don’t Have to Be the Martyr: Reclaiming Your Needs in Motherhood

In this powerful episode, Juliana and Nathaly dive deep into the all-too-familiar role many mothers unconsciously fall into: the motherhood martyr. From skipping meals to sacrificing sleep, hobbies, and identity—many moms are taught that good motherhood means self-erasure. But what if that’s a lie?

In this episode we discuss:

• How the pressure to "do it all" begins the moment we're pregnant - and how we're fed a long list of "shoulds" we may not even want
• The cultural conditioning that glorifies martyrdom in motherhood
• The hidden costs of repression - how denying your own needs can lead to chronic anger, burnout and even illness or autoimmune disease
• Why self-sacrifice isn't sustainable, or noble - it's a cycle that depletes everyone
• How to start rewriting the story: honoring your needs doesn't mean you love your child any less

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about permission—to rest, to ask for help, to take up space, and to mother from a place of wholeness.

Whether you're deep in the baby trenches or juggling school drop-offs and career demands, this episode is a loving call to stop setting yourself on fire to keep everyone else warm.

Let's keep the conversation going:

DM us on Instagram @thiswasntinthemanualpod and share your motherhood reality check moments.

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