Motherhood is hard. Not the cute Instagram version with matching outfits and homemade baby purées. The real version. The sleep deprivation, the self-doubt, the endless responsibility and the overwhelming feeling that everyone else somehow knows what they’re doing except you.
In this episode of MAMA, Victoria Vanstone explores the emotional load of motherhood and why so many mums find themselves reaching for a glass of wine at the end of the day. From cracked nipples and emergency C-sections to washing-line tears and 3am anxiety spirals, Vic shares her own experience of becoming overwhelmed and quietly using alcohol to cope.
She unpacks the science behind anxiety, why alcohol can feel like a solution when you’re exhausted, lonely or struggling, and how mummy wine culture cleverly disguises itself as self-care while often making things worse.
Vic also explores some of the most common triggers for drinking in motherhood, including exhaustion, comparison, guilt, resentment and overwhelm, and explains why understanding what’s underneath the urge to drink can be far more powerful than simply focusing on the alcohol itself.
This episode isn’t about judgement or telling anyone what they should do. It’s about understanding why motherhood can feel so hard, learning to challenge the stories we tell ourselves, and discovering healthier ways to cope when life feels like too much.
If you’ve ever found yourself hiding in the pantry for five minutes of peace, wondering if you’re doing any of this right, or pouring a reward wine because the kids survived another day, this episode is for you.
No perfection. No mummy guilt. Just honest conversations about motherhood, overwhelm and finding your way through.
About MAMA
MAMA (Motherhood. Alcohol. Mental Health. Anxiety.) is a special podcast series from Sober Awkward, created to complement the Healthy Mum Healthy Bub program.
Developed in partnership with researchers from The University of Sydney and supported by funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), MAMA aims to help mums feel less alone, more informed and better supported as they navigate the challenges of early motherhood.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling with anxiety, or questioning the role alcohol plays in your life, you’re in the right place.
Healthy Mum Healthy Bub
https://www.sydney.edu.au/matilda-centre
Sober Awkward
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Mumming - A Year of Trying (and Failing) to be a Better Parent -
A Thousand Wasted Sundays -
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