Millie Mackintosh: The Coping Strategy That’s Making Mothers More Anxious
Does the thought of getting through bedtime without that evening glass of wine feel almost impossible?
Motherhood can leave your nervous system completely overwhelmed. You’re overstimulated, exhausted, carrying the mental load and desperately looking for something that will help you switch off. It makes sense that alcohol can begin to feel like the quickest way to find relief.
But what if the thing helping you cope in the moment is actually making you feel more anxious, affecting your sleep and leaving motherhood feeling even harder the next day?
In this powerful Moment, Zoe is joined by author, entrepreneur and Made in Chelsea alumna Millie Mackintosh to unpack the reality behind “mummy needs wine” culture.
Millie shares how easily alcohol became intertwined with motherhood, from champagne after giving birth to drinking at children’s parties and counting down to that first evening glass. She explains why she eventually realised it was stealing her joy, and the practical first steps that helped her change her relationship with drinking.
This isn’t about judgement or labels. It’s an honest conversation for anyone who has wondered whether alcohol is still working for them.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why motherhood can make alcohol feel like such a powerful coping mechanism
How even moderate drinking can affect anxiety and sleep
Why “mummy needs wine” culture has become so normalised
The signs that alcohol may be taking more from your life than it gives
How to explore your relationship with drinking without labelling yourself
The practical first steps Millie recommends if you know something needs to change
Why support, information and self-compassion can make changing your habits feel possible
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If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s conversation with Frankie Bridge: How to Stay Ambitious After Kids Without the Mum Guilt
An honest conversation about anxiety, maternal mental health and giving mothers permission to admit when they are struggling.
Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes.
Connect with Zoe:
Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’
This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor: Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.
Key topics
Motherhood and alcohol • Mummy wine culture • Grey-area drinking • Sober curiosity • Alcohol-free motherhood • Maternal anxiety • Anxiety after drinking • Alcohol and sleep • Nervous-system regulation • Overstimulation in motherhood • Maternal mental health • Mental load • Drinking habits • Emotional coping mechanisms • Sobriety • Self-care for mothers • Millie Mackintosh • Bad Drunk • Motherkind