How do I hide the fact that I'm pregnant at a family do?

[Helpdontknowwhattodo]

I'm currently 6 weeks pregnant. We've had problems TTC and I've had 2 miscarriages in the space of a year (both around 6-8 weeks)

It's my father's birthday this weekend and my partner and I are driving up to see them all. Nearly all the family will be there and we're staying overnight on the Saturday.

Problem is, I usually drink like a fish, and I know there will be lots of drinking. My mum is very 'clued up' and will immediately suspect something if I don't have a drink. I'm also suffering from morning sickness which is a dead giveaway.

I don't really want to tell people I'm pregnant at this stage just incase it doesn't work out. Anyone got any suggestions for what I could say to avoid drinking?

Fake drinks worked for me too
Vodka and orange (just orange juice) and non alcoholic wine fooled everyone for the evening

Take the wine and constantly swap glasses with your partner to give the illusion of drinking. I did this with my mum when pregnant. She was plastered. 🤣

No one I know stops drinking when they are on antibiotics.

What's wrong with simply saying that you're pregnant?

The OP clearly said she has had two previous miscarriages so isn’t it obvious why she doesn’t ‘simply’ do that? OP I think fake drinking would be the best way while simultaneously faking a hangover. Good luck with your pregnancy, I really hope this one sticks.

Not the antibiotics thing!!!

Pretend to drink? I “drank” all night at a works Christmas do and no one guessed. I pretended to sip wine, let it get topped up, took my wine glass round with me when mingling (so everyone always saw me with wine in my hand) and left it on random tables or exchanged for less full glasses.

I’m sure it’s doable for you especially if you have a DH/ DP there to swap glasses with you or take sips from yours.

Key is not to make excuses for not drinking.

Say you're too hungover and cant stomach alcohol. Worked well for me last week!

Go down the route of hangover, but then have a hare if the dog alcohol drink to get rid of the hangover - jyst don’t actually drink it

Don’t make to much of it either, mention it it and move on. But obviously make sure you and dh know where you got the hangover etc so if questions are asked you don’t balls it up

It's your mum and dad. Tell then before, talk to them about your worries and ask them for discretion. They would want to support you regardless.
Do the holding a glass thing, tonic with no gin.

A relative of mine kept her pregnancy hidden when she was bridesmaid at her sister's wedding. She would carry around a glass of champagne and then just 'accidentally' leave it on a table every now and then. If anyone asked if they could get her a drink, she would just say someone just has but maybe later. She did lots of moving around so it wasn't obvious she had the same drink in her hand the whole time. Noone guessed!

Would it work to say that you are TTC and have decided to go on the wagon while you are TTC because it is overall for the best especially given the MCs? Follwed by an 'it's been a tough year, I don't want to talk about it'? Or is that too obvious?

It takes some effort and talent for subterfuge but the drink-swapping thing does work. I once got through my BIL's 40th - and constant rounds of sambuca shots at the insistence of DH's uncle - by keeping a bottle of water and an empty shot glass under the table. Every time he brought the tray over I'd reach for a glass with everybody else but I'd drink the one with water in it. It was quite fun after a while, watching them all get pie-eyed. I wasn't even pregnant - I just didn't want a hangover for the journey home in the morning.

Actually that's another idea - you said you'd be driving up. What are the chances of hitting some awful stop/start traffic queue and getting horribly car sick? Or would that just make them even more suspicious?