Tips for hiding pregnancy

[MrsJKD]

Hi all,

I've just found out that I'm six weeks pregnant and don't want to tell anyone at work just yet. It wouldn't be a problem normally but the time of year makes it tricky! I work in a marketing agency and have got five Christmas dinners/drinks with clients, a works Christmas do and an awards evening in the next four weeks. All would normally be very boozy and work pay for taxis, so I'd struggle to get away with saying I'm driving. Also can't pretend to be on antibiotics for four weeks!

Has anyone got any tips on how to avoid drinking without anyone noticing so that I can get through the next few weeks without being outed?!

[RabbitSaysWoof]

Tell them you have a drink problem.
Failing that Appletize in a wine glass.

[RabbitSaysWoof]

Congratulations btw

[TheSpottedZebra]

I also worked in a boozy place over Xmas. I decided to say that I was on a bit of a diet as I had a wedding in Jan that I wanted to attend, and I knew that a) I'd put on some weight, and b) I'd put on a whole lot more if I boozed it up with work. This did mean that I had to not eat all the chocolates that flooded into the office, but that was probably a good thing.

[sizethree]

Say you're doing a course of acupuncture (for some other medical made up problem - like ibs) and militant acupuncturist has insisted on no alcohol. Or that you're being treated for an ongoing allergy and that you are on strong antihisthaminrs. Or that you gave blood and you can't drink for 48. A combination of all the above over the coming weeks will work! But also remember people will take less notice than you think! People will be too polite to say anything even IV they are suspicious.
Congratulations and good luck!

[MrsJKD]

Thanks! It's great to have a few ideas to go at over the next few weeks.

You're probably right that people won't be paying as much attention as I think they will!

[Purplehonesty]

Yes say you are dieting so you can scoff all the lovely Christmas food you want. You will probably bloat a bit anyway so you can point to your stomach and say look! I need to diet a bit!
Then have the occasional appletise in a wine glass.

[Toadsrevisited]

Drink 'no gin and lots of tonic' instead but don't let on? Nicer than appletise. Congrats

[Want2bSupermum]

I was pregnant in October and told work in Jan for DD. I made a point to drive everywhere so I could say I wasn't going to drink! For the big company party I stopped into the restaurant the day before and told them I needed their help to cover myself and that if I asked for a glass of champagne, to give me ginger ale instead. The bartender was amazing and filled up an empty champagne bottle to make it authentic! I went back and gave him a huge tip.

I like Rabbit's approach of saying you have a drinking problem. If you say something like that people tend to leave the topic well alone.

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

Agree, tonic with ice and lemon looks pretty much the same as g&t

[nottheOP]

I was duped by a friend drinking g & ts, vodka & various mixers... They were all soft but no idea to look at.

I had a small glass of wine that I drank over the whole meal. Not sure if that's allowed anymore.

Having to drive in the morning is a good excuse too

[Trinpy]

No one will notice.

I went to a party when I was 11 weeks pregnant. Didn't drink a drop and yet still had several (very pissed) people telling me I needed to 'slow down' because I had clearly drunk far too much .

Making up excuses for why you're not drinking just draws attention to it

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

[fattycow]

'I have a bit of a headache and alcohol makes it worse.'
'I'm on antibiotics' works for two weeks. After that you can say 'I've just been on antibiotics and I'd rather be sure it's all out of my system before I drink again'.
'I don't feel so well, I think yesterday's steak didn't agree with me, so I rather don't upset my stomach more'. Blaming a steak will make them think you eat red meat, so unlikely to be preggers.

[MrsJKD]

Thank you all so much. I'll try tonics only and see how I get on...

On another note, I'm supposed to be going for a curry tomorrow for a friend's birthday - is there anything I need to avoid? Not had time to look into it in too much detail!

[Zebrasinpyjamas]

I agree with pp that mentioning it just draws attention to it. I just drank subtle soft drinks like toniic. At dinners I le the waiter pour me a super small wine if completely unavoidable but didn't drink it (but as it was half full no one noticed). Some people will realise but unlikely to comment.

On food-mostly it is common sense . Make sure your food is cooked well (no rare meat, runny eggs, not food that has been left around and not reheated to be hot through). Avoid pate and unpasteurised cheese like brie. Assuming the curry place isn't one of those dodgy 'got to be drunk to eat there' places you should be able to make a sensible choice! If I've forgotten other food restrictions am sure someone else will say but I definitely had a work do at a curry place when pg and I found things to eat.

[woodwaj]

Have a good moan about being hungover too! If anyone offers you headache tablets remember you have already had some ;)

[Purplehonesty]

Ooh thought of another

Make up a sponsor form for 'sober December' and get people in the office to sponsor you.
Donate to favourite charity or tell them after Xmas and don't collect!

[MrsJKD]

You guys are masters of deception!

[Biscuitsneeded]

Say yes to one glass of wine and then don't drink it. Put it down somewhere and wander off!

[IBelieveInPink]

Combination of driving, big family thing the next day, big night out that you don't want to be hanging for the next day, and big night out last night should get you through it.
Try not to make too much of a 'thing' of it, or people will notice more.

And curry place, should be fine, id avoid shellfish if it was me but each to their own...

Congratulations

[xalyssx]

Say that you're trying for a baby, so you don't want to drink in case it affects your chances.

[Caterina99]

Just either have drinks like g&t but without the g or if someone wants to buy you a drink, get a glass of wine and sip it all evening. I did this last week and I really don't think anyone noticed. People only notice if you draw attention to the fact you're not drinking.

[Fleurchamp]

Great ideas!

I am going down the route of not making a big deal of it, just drink soft drinks (and lie that there is gin/vodka in it if necessary) and accept a glass of wine at the start of the night and then "lose" it

The one that I am worried about is dinner with our best friends. They will so guess but so be it!

[helly29]

Good suggestions above. However with the tonic be careful - I did this in a bar with some friends without realising that one friend already had a g&t - this particular bar did the alcoholic version up like a proper cocktail! Next to it my simple glass of tonic looked very conspicuous, and my friends assumed that the bar staff had done it wrong and tried to make me complain! I wanted the ground to open up - should've gone for a coke!

[juneau]

I agree - say nothing. Excuses sound more suspicious than just pretending all is normal.

Many soft drinks look like alcoholic ones - (no vodka), lime and soda, (no gin), plenty of tonic, ice and lemon, Virgin Mary, (no vodka) and orange, you can even drink alcohol-free wine and beer! I had to keep my first pregnancy under wraps until 12 weeks too and had a very sociable job, so I was a mistress of subterfuge.

[Northumberlandlass]

Yup agree, class of tonic with ice & lemon.