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Pregnancy

Excuses for not drinking (before 12 week scan)

42 replies

CrazyThursday · 23/11/2013 09:00

I'm supposed to be going for drinks with two friends next week. I'll be 6 weeks then and just cannot fathom out how I can get away with not drinking!

They won't believe me if I say I'm on a health kick, or antibiotics. They know me too well Wink

DD has been susceptible to 24hr vomming bugs do I could say that and just not go but we've had these drinks in the diary for ages (all busy mummies now!!) so I'd feel bad letting them down (and the superstitious side of me would hate to use DD in a lie).

I could tell them I suppose. Prob is we aren't planning to tell family until Xmas day when I'll be 10 weeks and DH is still getting his head around it (ie we were only just talking about ttc). Last te it was nice to have a little secret just us for the whole of the first 12 weeks. One of the friends I've got a few things planned socially with over Xmas so it might be good to have her know do I've got an ally (and she's bound to guess when I'm not drinking at all these things.....)

Didn't have this issue last time around as we were living abroad!!!

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BigArea · 23/11/2013 09:07

Just tell them you're not drinking til Christmas. They will blatantly guess you are pg but if they are good friends won't say anything to you or broadcast it to the nation - what do you think?

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Charingcrossbun · 23/11/2013 09:09

I'd advise not to make an excuse just not to drink. Then if asked say something like you are worried you have a little of DDs tummy bug and have had a dodgy stomach.
I spent a fair amount of time drinking non-alcoholic cocktails and blue Beck's (in a glass) and just not making a show of the fact it was non-alcoholic.
Another good - although one off excuse - is to drive; could you be worried about DP having an issue at home or needing picking up so driving just incase?

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DoctorDonnaNoble · 23/11/2013 09:15

Driving is good. I was out with a big bunch of friends yesterday and didn't drink (the first time that's been the case with this group). Not a single one of them noticed!.
I mentioned to one that I'd been tired all week. She said 'are you pregnant?' but seeing as she has all the sensitivity of a particularly insensitive thing I had no hesitation in saying a simple 'No.'

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MrsA2 · 23/11/2013 09:18

It's so tricky isn't it! Most of my friends will guess immediately the first time I'm not drinking and like you I'm hoping to get to Christmas without telling anyone.

To be honest I've just been avoiding social situations a lot. For my work Xmas party I'm making out I'm double booked and so need to drive.

It's quite a challenge...

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CrazyThursday · 23/11/2013 09:22

Hmm. We all live walking distance of the bar we're going to so that's out of the question.

The fact that its just three of us makes it harder. We've got a big Christmas meal booked and I'm not fussed about that because I think I can get away with no one noticing as there will be loads of people.

Ha ha, am even contemplating calling the bar first and asking them to discreetly make all my drinks non alcoholic so whether its me or the other two ordering ill just get lemonade instead of say vodka and lemonade....

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onedogandababy · 23/11/2013 09:25

Tell them you've had a kidney infection & you're giving yourself a break from the drink as there's no way you want it back over Xmas...

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bebopanddoowop · 23/11/2013 09:26

I actually got insured in my husbands car (that I hate driving) just so I could use the "I'm driving" excuse. Also another one here for the pouring necks blue into a glass! It is tricky though.

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greentshirt · 23/11/2013 09:27

We used to arrive early and make sure we had a drink in, I used to drink 'vodka' lime and soda, then fall out of doing a round because we would be out of sync. Sometimes my DH would say, ohh we wont go in a round tonight as I dont feel like drinking as much, so the focus was on him not me! Absolutely got away with it!

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onedogandababy · 23/11/2013 09:28

You might want to start laying the groundwork for that excuse now though!

If only people could just speculate but not bloody ask.

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CrazyThursday · 23/11/2013 09:34

Well I have had an ongoing cold for 3-4 weeks so could potentially say its some kind of infection that needs clearing or that because my immune system is low it's spread to my, erm, waters...

Ironically one of the girls who I'm out with next week was convinced I was pregnant week before last. I told her she was barking up the wrong tree as DH was only just ready to talk about ttc let alone actually ttc... A couple days after that I realised I was late and tested!!

Am now thinking the best solution is for DH to book us a "surprise weekend away" Wink!!

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caitlinsurrey · 23/11/2013 09:37

Hi, if you really don't want them to know you are pregnant I probably wouldn't go out with them drinking to be honest. Make an excuse your not well can't make it, maybe suggest you meet for coffee and cake? x

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CrazyThursday · 23/11/2013 10:32

Just spoke to DH about it again and he doesn't want me to tell them so that's out.

I think I will have to blow it out to be honest.

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terilou87 · 23/11/2013 13:12

Buy your own drink when none of them are at the bar get a coke or orange n just let them think it's a vodka n coke/ orange if you don't say anything they probably won't guess

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peeapod · 23/11/2013 13:25

I would be completely honest. but then not give so much away. Tell your friends your ttc and so your being good because youv read the best way is to pretend your pregnant already and to look after yourself and your body...

can even say its on doctors advice.

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iloveweetos · 23/11/2013 13:54

I just would say drink has been causing havoc with my skin so wanna have a break til Xmas. If your dp doesn't want you to say then don't. It's nice just you knowing for the time being aswel :)

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Ememem84 · 23/11/2013 13:57

Driving. Or you're hungover from last night still.

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JoinYourPlayfellows · 23/11/2013 14:07

Just go and don't tell them you are pregnant and just order non-alcoholic drinks.

Don't miss out on a night out you will enjoy because of this, it's silly.

By the time you are on your second kid, most people have figured out that it's not really nice to be given the 3rd degree about not drinking, so they just pretend it's totally normal.

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Chopsypie · 23/11/2013 14:09

I recently had a mouth ulcer/infection at the very back of my mouth that made things taste disgusting, and anything cold really stung. You could say that?

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RobinSparkles · 23/11/2013 14:10

Just buy a tonic water and pretend it's a G&T. No one will be any wiser.

It's what I did. I had my hen do when I was about 9 weeks. I was on non-alcoholic cocktails all night and not one person twigged.

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ivykaty44 · 23/11/2013 14:11

tell them you are ttc and therefore not drinking as this may well effect you and if you are already pg and don't know yet then it would be silly. That way there is no announcement as such and you just tellt hem to keep stump about ttc, so they will not let the cat out of the bag so to speak and it is half trueish

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cravingcake · 23/11/2013 16:14

If they are good friends i would use the ttc so looking after yourself, trying to be healthy to increase chances etc but if they could keep it to themselves as its quite personal excuse.

Saying that, i was out with a group of mum friends last night and one of them claimed she is on antibiotics when asked why she was driving & not drinking, one mum simply said (in a very nice way), that old excuse eh, and said she hopes she feels better soon. A few of us know she is ttc so are pretty sure she is pregnant but just play along with it as she obviously isnt ready to tell yet, or is genuinely on antibiotics.

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brettgirl2 · 24/11/2013 07:31

Just tell them you aren't drinking. Oh and be grateful if you are feeling well enough to go out!

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CrazyThursday · 24/11/2013 08:28

Actually that's not a bad idea - I could tell them I'm in the 2ww / a couple of days late... Then if they follow up I could say I came on...

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mrscog · 24/11/2013 08:37

Order 1 weak alcoholic drink - beer or long martini and lemonade or something. Sip at it and start the meal, then when it comes to order the next one make some excuse about the one you're sipping at not going down well (unsettled stomach or something) and then switch to a soft one.

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CrazyThursday · 24/11/2013 11:51

Thanks, but no meal involved... It'll be all about the wine....

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