Early pregnancy over the Christmas period

[hgleslie89]

I found out a few days ago that I'm pregnant (hooray!) and was wondering whether anyone had tips for getting through Christmas parties etc.? My husband and I are planning on telling family members at Christmas (when I'll be nearly 9 weeks), but other people won't find out until mid January. So any suggestions of how to gloss over the fact that I won't be drinking at Christmas/New Year shenanigans without outright lying?

[LouLou030783]

I've seen people on here saying have a drink on hand and just keep tossing bits of it and hopefully no one will notice that ur not drinking..or drive and say u were out night before and not really feeling up for a drink x

[Mermaid36]

I'm currently 5 weeks, so will be 9 or 10 weeks over xmas....

Luckily, I don't drink anyway, but could you offer to be the designated driver for nights out? Blame a heavy night the night before?

I suspect using the old antibiotics excuse will wear very thin!

[Missingcaffeine]

It's not the easiest time to hide it is it!! I'm 7 weeks with pregnancy number 2 and won't have my scan until Jan, so have decided I will have to tell people who know me well as they'd certainly guess if I turned down a drink on Christmas day!
If you can offer to host it makes it very easy to pretend you are drinking. You can fill empty beer/cider/alcopop bottles with whatever you like, or drink something that looks like wine out of a wine glass. If you pour it out of sight, nobody will know.
If you're out, it helps to have someone close to you in on the secret, as to do it alone is almost impossible unless you can get away with saying you're driving. I asked my boyfriend to buy me 'vodka and lemonade' but he just ordered a spirit glass so it looked like vodka and lemonade. This worked until he got pissed and came back with a pint of diet coke shouting, here's your diet coke. Thankfully most of the room was pissed at this point.

[LemonBreeland]

I had this with DS1. I've never been much of drinker so got away with it quite easily for the most part. I agree the designated driver bit is the easiest way. If it is different groups of people then pretend you and your DH are alternating.

I had two office Christmas parties in a row. On the Thursday I said I wasn't drinking as I had work the next day. Took the offered glass of champagne and didn't really drink it. On the Friday I pretended I was too hungover from the previous night, different people so easily done.

I did get caught out with friends on the NYE though as we were staying at theirs, so no driving excuse. Was happy to tell that particular set of friends though.

[GorillaWar]

I stopped drinking and smoking before Christmas and started vomiting. Everyone just asked if I was pregnant and I didn't lie because it was just too obvious. I asked them to keep it quiet because there were people I wanted to tell in person before it was public knowledge. People respected that in general and it was a lot easier than pretending I didn't feel like crap. Do you really need to keep it a secret?

[hgleslie89]

Thanks for the replies The hubby is keen to keep it quiet as he's got friends who had problematic early pregnancies, so I feel like I'd be going behind his back if I told people.

[Flybynight1]

I just got my bfp but have been tee-total since we started TTC in sept. So far my tactic that has worked ok is to pretend to drink but then offload to DH or if on a night out just 'lose' drinks. If going for a meal I say I'm mega thirsty and opt for water or juice on the premise I'll start on the booze later... And people don't notice when I don't! I've got a few work events coming up and I'm planning on driving for one and being 'severely hungover' on the other!!

[Dileas29]

It makes me nervous the idea of it! Planning on playing the hungover card and driving card.

[Beansprout30]

I went out on a work night out a few month ago and drank far too much and told everyone I'd never do it again as I can't face the hangover, so luckily I set myself up nicely for not drinking at the Xmas do. I think driving is a good one or saying you have to be up early the next day

[AprilShowers16]

I'm in the same boat, 6 weeks today. My main plan is to accept drinks and then not actually drink them as i think that will cause less attention. I think I may have to tell friends at New Years tho as we're going away with them and they're always keen on a night cap so I think will twig if I refuse

[Elfishpresley]

I was pregnant last year over Christmas (1st scan on 30th Dec) and I'm pregnant this year (I know, I am mental) and won't have first scan until 2nd week of Jan.


Last year, everyone found out due to a blabber mouth family member so we gave up keeping it a secret.

This time around, I cannot be arsed with boozy social occasions when I'm pregnant, pissed people annoy me when I'm sober and everyone would guess as I am a drinker, so instead of watching the boxing in the pub, I'm being robbed by Sky to watch it in my lounge!

Not really much help there OP but I would go with a previous posters suggestion of accepting drinks (or just nurse the same one all night) but not drinking them, people will be more suspicious if you turn them down.

[skankingpiglet]

I'm going to be the designated driver for the only problematic social event I've got before Xmas. I've had a few other events so far which I've either also been the driver for, or nursed one very small drink all evening. I've also tried ginger ale in a wine glass which looks the part of a rich white, and has the added bonus of easing morning sickness
Thankfully my scan is on the 22nd so I'll be able to tell wider family on Xmas day and friends on NYE!

[skankingpiglet]

Should also mention when pregnant with DD I tried the antibiotics line as we were at a close friend's wedding and staying over. I was rumbled by quite a few people...

[Dileas29]

Ahhh I thought I'd be able to hold off telling my family till Christmas but Sunday dinner just now and blue cheese offered for soup. I text my husband over the room to earn him and he says loudly "but you can eat goats cheese cant you??" Ahhh men!!!

[Lulabells]

Hello. I'm in exactly the same boat. Will be 9 weeks on Xmas day! I have two Xmas parties on the 19th December with taxi and hotel provided so can't even use the designated driver excuse!! I think I may be rumbled! Lol.

[mrsjskelton]

Just go for inconspicuous drinks - no fancy mocktails that might get people wanting to order the same... "Something" with Coke or lemonade or something that looks like prosecco (appletiser?) in a champagne flute - get the bar staff on side x

[Purplelilly]

It seems really ridiculous that so many people think you MUST drink if you're at a party and somehow if you don't that is any of their business! It's so rude when you think about it :)

It sure does make covering pregnancy tough! I'd follow Mrsjskelton's advice. Stick to a soft drink and if anyone asks you're drinking spirits. It's not great though as you'll be drinking high sugar beverages all night without much choice in the matter. It's also difficult if people buy you a drink.

Hopefully your partner could down any drinks bought for you on the quiet by taking a sneaky swig now and again :)

[skankingpiglet]

Dileas29 Is the blue cheese thoroughly cooked into the soup? The risk with it is listeria, which thorough cooking kills. I got very excited when I realised this whilst pregnant with DD and could satisfy my cheesy cravings with baked camembert and blue cheese pasta sauces!

[ValancyJane]

Things I did (though I only got away with it until about 7 weeks!) sent DP to the bar frequently for a 'vodka lemonade' or 'malibu lemonade' (obviously, lemonade), faked a stomach bug quite convincingly (involved posts on facebook whingeing about being ill on the weekend) and claimed to be badly hungover. The antibiotics line is a dead giveaway so I didn't go with that... That said we only got away with it until seven weeks, then it got a bit obvious to our friends!

[Jenijena]

On the nhs website it says you can have Stilton...

[katienana]

Before ultrasound scans there was no 12 week rule for telling people. I would go with driving, drinking something like orange that looks like vodka and orange or even saying nothing and not worrying because people probably won't take that much notice anyway.

[toohardtothinkofaname]

I went to a wedding when we'd just found out. I drove but didn't make a song & dance about it and during the day just accepted drinks & just left them on random tables. I couldn't tell you who else at the wedding wasn't drinking so doubt people will notice you aren't either.

I think sometimes people want to be questioned/caught & use the antibiotics line.

[Dileas29]

It's when it's a small table of friends saying about having a "kitty" so all putting money in to get rounds in which makes me worried!

[toohardtothinkofaname]

Ah yes, that's more tricky! If it's close friends I'd just tell them. I think a poster on this thread said before the 12 week 'rule' only came in when scans did. I told my parents, in-laws & close friends at 7 weeks

[1frenchfoodie]

Tonic water, ice and slice. Got very cross spending up to £2.60 (central london) on this before I was ready to tell anyone but did the trick at convincing friends I was on the more usual G&Ts.