pregnant at christmas

[Elaine1977]

Hi all, I have just found out that I'm 5 weeks pregnant . As it's christmas in a few weeks and I don't want to announce the pregnancy for 3 months does anyone have any suggestions how I can avoid alcohol without anyone having suspicions as my family and a few close friends know I was trying to get pregnant. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks

Congratulations.

I would also go for antibiotics, especially as I was so ill in the first trimester that I looked dreadful and would have been sick being in the same house as a roasting turkey, let alone eating it. If you do get MS (and I hope you escape) then the antibiotics fits with generally feeling awful.

I'll be 31 weeks at Christmas, so no booze for me, but no need to hide it either.

Il be 19 1/2 week xmas day and I need to hide it too, im just hoping that everyone is too interested in their own drinks to take notice on mine. But you could always just drink a soft drink and say it has a spirit in it

doesn't everybody think "pregnant!" when a (youngish) woman claims she's not drinking because of antibiotics? Or is it just me?

Rather than lying about antibiotics or anything else (which would make me feel awkward as it might involve elaborating on the lie at some point), I'd just use deflection - when someone offers you a drink, say "I'm OK for a minute" and then get yourself one once the moment's passed. Or let them pour you one and palm it off on an accomplice DP when no one's looking. And have some deflection replies ready for if someone does guess and indiscreetly asks you so that you're not taken by surprise.

I agree hazle. I tried the antibiotics line once and my friend said straight away 'oh that old chestnut. So, are you?'. The gastro trouble line worked much better for me. No one wants to hear about that and it does explain why you might not want much of your christmas dinner!

I agree Hazle! Especially as friends and family knew OP was trying for a baby. The antibiotics line is a dead giveaway, especially because you can drink on most types of antibiotic anyway.

I have had this dilemma recently and found the following tack the best option: Keep accepting drinks that are offered - never say no to a drink, then just hold them until you can 'lose' them, and put them down somewhere. Or take to the loo with you and tip most away. Don't refuse a drink, as this will highlight the fact you are not drinking. Flit between different groups of people. If there is dancing, then dance as much as you can muster as this detracts from the drinking, and people will think you are probably a bit tipsy anyway. Eventually people will be too drunk to notice!

Sit down dinners are harder if you think people are watching you eg if they know you are ttc, but sometimes you just have to brazen it out! If you have one person you can confide in then they can help you out with the pretense!

I didn't drink at Burns' this year and everyone assumed I was pregnant. I wasn't -not for want of trying :( I just hadn't fancied a drink that night.

Antibiotics are the best excues. Start dropping hints about going to the doctor to check out a suitable -nonsymptomatic- ailment next week.

metronidazole is one of the antibiotics that you must not have any alcohol with - not even a small bowl of sherry trifle or mouthwash with alcohol, as it messes up the way the body processes alcohol and can make you very very poorly, and can also give you hot flushes, heart palpitations and headache. You are not recommended to have alcohol until 48hrs after you have finished a course of it. The usual dosage is one tablet four times a day, spread evenly throughout 24hrs.
It is quite commonly prescribed by dentists.

There you go, some information so that you can lie convincingly ;)

We had an engagement party shortly after I found out I was pregnant and I said I had a bad stomach so didn't want to upset it further by having alcohol. No one suspected a thing!

Antibiotics are like a red rag to a bull! Only use that excuse if you are willing to elaborate in some way to make it convincing.

I second everyone that 'lost' drinks or deflecting attention. I got through last xmas (8 wks) by pretty much pouring all my own drinks - Asda do a Schloer type drink that looks exactly like prosecco or I drove everywhere. I stopped feeding my son on xmas eve (due to history of mc with that pregnancy ending up as a mmc anyway) but kept that excuse going too so nobody noticed

Driving, antibiotics or you could try saying you're on a detox diet. But not sure I really agree with telling lies to people you know well. I wouldn't like to be lied to like this.

Just accept a drink and then drink it very slowly and at some point pour half away or swop with someone.

Or drive!

I'd say antibiotics. Metronidazole is an antibiotic that when you're taking it you can't even have mouthwash if it's got alcohol in because even the most minute amount can cause a seizure - you could try that!

I was pregnant this time last year. At parties, I just accepted a glass of wine and took a handful of tiny sips through the night (mostly just wetting my lips). No one noticed that I wasn't drinking my usual quantities.

The antibiotics line is very transparent.

I am in the same boat. 12 Weeks on the 19th and i have my christmas do on the 18th. I am also dodging the in-laws and am now drinking non-alcholic wine.. its a good ruse!

I agree, antibiotics are (now) the oldest line in the book. We just told people who noticed early on, but they weren't the type to blab so we were quite chilled about it. This time I was a little coy around friends (who would talk!) and just accepted a glass of prosecco at the start of the evening and nursed it for the whole dinner, drinking most of the water on the table in the process. Afterwards I just drank NA beer and asked the barman to put it in a glass, or had a lemonade. No-one really noticed apart from my one friend who shares my love of good wine and wondered why I hadn't touched any. She thought I was offended by the choice!

No don't tell people you're on antibiotics. If someone told me they were on antibiotics and then proceeded to tell me which one exactly it was I'd think it was an elaborate ruse and they were pregnant. Just nurse a drink, or keep accepting them - once people are tipsy they won't notice.

When I was six months along at a wedding I had people trying to force shots down me even though I thought I looked obviously pregnant!

I'll be 10 weeks at Christmas and we're going to tell people. It wouldn't really be my preferred way so soon but no one in my family will fall for the anti-biotic line and I don't drive. With DS I'd cut way back on drinking when we were trying so it wasn't as obvious when I refused a glass of wine but at Christmas it's different! I'd do as others have suggested, nurse drinks, swap drinks, appletize looks like wine, ditch drinks into the loo and the odd sip to throw people off won't hurt. Also, as it's Christmas you could always use the "I'm too hung over from last night to drink" line

I'm about 4 weeks and going to have to hide it too. My parents normally come over Xmas morning and we have champagne breakfast, then by brother comes over in eve and we have a few to drink.
To get around my mum and dad I'm gonna do Buck's Fizz this year and I'll just put orange and lemoande. Hopefully my brother by the eve will have had a few and not notice..:0/ works do I'm luckily working early shift the next morn & manager on duty. So that's my excuse ??

Firstly congratulations!

Agree with pp and have a fake/decoy drink to hand, preferably swapping it for a non alcoholic drink when you're sure no one is looking! Did this at works Xmas party, boss decided to do big speech and toast, I smiled and nodded along, but mentally thinking 'shiiiiiiit!', everyone took a drink, so did I, then quietly slipped away and spat it outside in a bush!

Shrubbery, pot plants and open windows are your friend

Non alcoholic wine or beer, line and lemonade without the added spirit. Even if you accept a drink just get rid of it at the earliest opportunity. Swap glasses with your OH.

Congrats

I was 10 weeks pregnant 2 years ago at Xmas, and my family are big drinkers so it's usually a big piss up. I drink vodka so i just had plain soda water and when offered a top up I said I was ok then always poured my own drinks. I'm pregnant again this year but will be 18 weeks so no need to hide it. I agree with the no ab story it's far too obvious. If you drink wine sit next to your oh and swap glasses discretely. Good luck