Becoming a mum is amazing, but let’s be real—it’s also one of the hardest things ever. The sleepless nights, the constant need to be “on,” the endless stream of dirty diapers, crying, and laundry. Oh, and don’t forget trying to keep a tiny human alive while figuring out who you are now that your whole world has changed. So it’s no surprise that somewhere along the way, the idea of “mummy wine time” became a thing. You know, the glass (or three) of wine to unwind after a long day of newborn chaos.
The Myth of “Mummy Wine Time”
There’s this picture-perfect image of mums laughing together over wine, like it’s the secret to surviving motherhood. And let’s be honest, at first it might feel like it helps. You’ve been going full speed all day, and that glass of wine is like a permission slip to finally relax. It’s the little break that makes the craziness of new motherhood feel manageable, even if just for a few minutes. But here’s the tricky part—what starts as a little relief can easily turn into a crutch, and suddenly, you’re reaching for that glass more often than not because it feels like the only thing that helps.
The Unseen Pressure
Motherhood brings a whole new kind of pressure. You’re expected to be everything for everyone—nurturing, patient, organized, and somehow managing to still have a social life or a career or a clean house (ha!). It’s overwhelming, and when you feel like you’re constantly falling short, the stress builds up. Sometimes a drink seems like the quickest way to take the edge off, to quiet that voice in your head telling you you’re not doing enough, or that you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s like a tiny escape from the daily grind of “mumming.”
The Problem with “Just One Glass”
For so many new mums, that glass of wine becomes part of the routine and eventually turns into more. You’ve spent the day tending to everyone else’s needs and having one or two drinks feels like a small reward for making it through. But the problem with using alcohol to cope is that it’s a temporary fix, and it can come with some heavy consequences. While it feels like it helps in the moment, alcohol can actually make things like anxiety, sleeplessness, and emotional burnout worse. The very things you’re trying to escape end up magnified the next day, leaving you in a cycle that’s tough to break.
The Emotional Weight
Motherhood can be isolating, especially in the beginning. You might feel like you’re drowning in responsibility, but you don’t want to admit it because there’s this unspoken rule that says you’re supposed to love every minute. It’s easy to feel guilty for needing a break, and when alcohol is framed as this socially acceptable “mum cure,” it’s tempting to lean on it. But underneath that wine glass, there’s often a lot of unspoken stress, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion.
Finding Real Support
If you’ve been reaching for wine to cope with new motherhood, you’re not alone. But maybe there’s another way to find relief that doesn’t come with the next-day regrets or the emotional hangover. Taking off the “wine goggles” means giving yourself permission to feel what you’re going through without numbing it out. It means finding moments of calm, connection, and support in other ways—whether that’s talking to someone who gets it, finding a way to rest (yes, really rest!), or even just taking a deep breath when it all feels like too much.
Motherhood is hard enough without adding the weight of drinking to the mix. You deserve to feel supported, not just for a few minutes at the bottom of a glass, but in real, lasting ways.
Zoe.