Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Flip

Original poster

Any advice on avoiding alcohol in an unusually tricky situation....?

25 replies

user1484167681 · 11/01/2017 21:14

Hi all, first-time poster so please be patient :)

I've stopped drinking under the pretext of "Dry January" as we are TTC, which is hard enough to get the family to believe because I'll usually have a drink at any and every occasion! We've planned out the excuses we'll use (UTI, 5k race the next day, etc) for all upcoming birthdays and events, except one...

As a Christmas present, my SIL and her DH are treating me, my DH, their two sisters and a plus one to a private cocktail-making class at the start of March. I don't want to drink (certainly not 3 cocktails!) even if I'm not pregnant by then, but I also don't want to "fall ill" and not go, or show up and refuse to drink, as it's a very generous gift... But I also don't want to delay TTCing because of it, which is what I suspect DH might suggest.

Any thoughts, please?? All the advice I've found online talks about busy social events or meals where it's easier... but a cocktail class is ALL about the booze. I'm wracking my brains!

Thanks!

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 11/01/2017 21:16

If you're not pregnant, there's no reason to miss the cocktail session. Ttc can take a while. Most people aren't teetotal until they get a positive test.

Thegiantofillinois · 11/01/2017 21:18

I drank while ttc. Chances are you'll be testing so early, you'll know anyway. I found out 2 weeks after dtd first time. I also went right off alcohol v quickly.

Namechangenurseryconcerns · 11/01/2017 21:21

There's no need to stop drinking while you ttc! You could be trying for months (or longer sadly).
The embryo is protected for the first couple of weeks anyway I think before it implants.

Dementedswan · 11/01/2017 21:22

A few cocktails whilst ttc won't do any harm. If you don't want to drink then don't. I don't understand why people feel they have to.

There's an antibiotic usually used in dental cases beginning with m that you cannot mix with alcohol so maybe let slip you have toothache a couple days prior and go to fictional dentist and he's given this antibiotic so you can't drink.

Namechangenurseryconcerns · 11/01/2017 21:23

If you're pregnant by then that's a different matter-you'd perhaps just have to tell them and stick to virgin cocktails?

Mummamayhem · 11/01/2017 21:24

Enjoy the cocktails before you're pregnant. One day/night won't hurt.

haveacupoftea · 11/01/2017 22:34

If you want a drink just have one or tell them you felt much better not drinking during dry jan and are staying off it.

Honestly its long enough going 9 months when pregnant without a drink, you might as well enjoy it while you can.

LivininaBox · 11/01/2017 22:38

Why not just have a few sips and let your DH drink the rest?

maisybobbins · 11/01/2017 22:46

Relax and have fun while you ttc! Healthy lifestyle I agree with but the cocktail night sounds fab. Enjoy, won't do you any harm at all.

Roseandbee · 11/01/2017 23:23

after your dry January you could tell everyone how great you feel & your going to attempt to do it for a year & ask them to sponsor you for charity.
But that's just if ur desperate to not drink, I'd just drink. Also if it took more than a year people wud need a new excuse

Nellyphants · 11/01/2017 23:26

I take a. glass of wine & carry it around all night. I occasionally raise it to my lips & put it down.

Peppapogstillonaloop · 11/01/2017 23:31

Honestly chill out! A few drinks will make no difference while ttc..
I was pretty much off the. Booze while ttc no 1, of course I fell pregnant the month I relaxed and got hammered..

kel12345 · 12/01/2017 00:38

There is no need to not drink when ttc. I did. Mind you I drink throughout my pregnancy as well. A few does no harm

Pyjamas81 · 12/01/2017 09:04

I think I'm out - spotting this morning. I don't usually spot, but AF is due so I think that's that. Cried about it for the first time today. Now that we're facing cycle 8 it's starting to feel even more unlikely 😞 Sorry, just feeling pretty down about it. Going to wait until AF arrives properly and then I'll make my appointment for my HSG.

Christmascheerful · 12/01/2017 09:08

Is that you op^^? I'm confused

Anyway ttc took over 2years for me without any medical help or intervention and if I'd known then what I know now if just have carried on with normal life and not been all "oooh that night out what if" "can't go for that promotion just incase" I'd have relaxed and got on with my life! Go to the class enjoy let your hairdown

Pyjamas81 · 12/01/2017 10:14

Sorry - app posted on wrong thread for some reason!!

namechange20050 · 12/01/2017 10:21

Chill out and have the cocktails; you may be TTC for some time! If you really don't want to & you are happy giving up drink for the duration then why not just be honest with your family tell them.

Also have a read of Expecting Better by Emily Oster about alcohol in early pregnancy. It's a great book.

TheMerryWidow1 · 12/01/2017 10:24

you are putting too much pressure on yourself, just chill and don't try and plan your social events around trying, otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy believe me.

PlymouthMaid1 · 12/01/2017 10:44

Make the cocktails very fruit juice based rather than lashings of different spirits - enjoy yourself but dont go crazy. I had no idea I was pregnant the first time as was unexpected and had drunk rather a lot at the time and no harm was done thankfully.

blueskyinmarch · 12/01/2017 11:22

You don't need to delay ttc because you might drink a few cocktails in March. You just need to get on with life as normal. Yes it is good to cut down on alcohol if you normally drink a lot. But you don't need to put your whole life on hold. I would say it is better if you relax and don't let things like this stress you when you are ttc.

Ashleigh9917 · 12/01/2017 12:01

*A few cocktails whilst ttc won't do any harm. If you don't want to drink then don't. I don't understand why people feel they have to.

Metronizadole

notsurehowtodothis · 12/01/2017 12:04

I wouldn't stop drinking just for TTC!! Relaxing and getting on with life as normal is more likely to help TTC than over-thinking and restricting things your body is used to. Just carry on as normal until otherwise necessary.....

Good luck xx

sarahnova69 · 12/01/2017 14:03

I take a. glass of wine & carry it around all night. I occasionally raise it to my lips & put it down.

This. I have NEVER had anyone notice that I haven't actually drunk a drink. People notice if you refuse, but they never notice that you are only pretending to sip it and oh dear, I seem to have misplaced my drink, how silly.

Also, what PPs said about not putting life on hold while you TTC. Also, frankly, I think excuses like "antibiotics" just make people absolutely SURE that a woman of childbearing age is indeed pregnant. In the worst-case scenario, nosy people with poor boundaries will blurt out "OMG you're pregnant aren't you!" Which will no doubt sting particularly if you aren't.

Unless you've already had a positive test, have the cocktails. If you've had a positive test, have fun making the cocktails, then pretend to sip them, then wander away "to the loo" and pour them down the sink.

Original poster

user1484167681 · 15/01/2017 12:59

OP here- many thanks for your comments, everyone! I'm reassured to know that I'm being over-zealous so will try to just enjoy myself, but not over-do it. :) Unless there's a BFP by then, in which case I'll have to enlist the help of DH and resort to some sneaky tactics!

OP posts:

sk1pper · 15/01/2017 17:41

I bet they can show you how to make mocktails - they are massive in bars and clubs now. Then just say you're having a dry January.

Flip