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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What lies can I use?

24 replies

K8eee · 07/03/2015 22:16

I'm off to my parents next weekend, and I'm literally no further than a month along but do and I want to keep pg quiet until after the 12 weeks. usually when I go, I have maybe 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks in the evening. my mum is pretty good at sussing out when I'm lying, but also, my fitness instructor has told me to give up boot camp as he's worried something might happen whilst I'm there which seems fair enough to me. stupidly I put this within a comment on Facebook to a friend and no doubt my mum has seen it, so I just need to think of a valid and good strong excuse for 1. not drinking and 2. not exercising.

any help much appreciated!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Justmuddlingalong · 07/03/2015 22:18

You've pulled a muscle and are on strong painkillers, which you can't drink on.

NinjaPanda34 · 07/03/2015 22:21

Always go for the too-much-information option, say you have a uti, works as a good cover story incase you need to go vom! Congrats on your pregnancy :)

Original poster

K8eee · 07/03/2015 22:24

ninja that's a good one!!! what about if she's asks what antibiotics I'm on, or why I can't exercise though...?

OP posts:

AuntieStella · 07/03/2015 22:32

Can you plead debilitating hangover the first day? And the rest of the time, take the drinks, maybe have an occasional tiny sip (at least put it to your lips) then 'lose' it, or swap glasses with DH?

Your parents really won't be watching closely enough to see how much you ingest. And it's easier to fake drink than to be believed when you say antibiotics.

Pulled muscle/busy at work/over egged a minor scaling back/gone off it but trying to save face, might cover the comment about exercise.

IfYouWereARiverIdLearnToFloat · 07/03/2015 22:45

Can you say you have an ear infection - so you're on antibiotics (amoxicillin would be common one for GP to prescribe & taken 3 times a day) and its left you a bit dizzy (also common symptom) so can't exercise...

I can't lie at all as I laugh inappropriately & give myself away but I think the less you say about it all the better. Maybe get your OH to remind you it's time to take your antibiotic an hour before dinner?

Good luck & congrats!

Original poster

K8eee · 07/03/2015 22:47

Do isn't coming with me and I haven't been at work since last year as we have dd whose nearly a year ear infection might work, but I'm having to drive so she'll get funny about me driving (very much a control freak is my mum lol)

OP posts:

funnyface31 · 07/03/2015 22:49

Antibiotics from the dentist. Nobody ever doubts that you cannot drink on them as they make you violently sick.

Showy · 07/03/2015 22:52

I never notice what anybody is drinking or isn't drinking until they start saying stuff about antibiotics and drawing all sorts of attention to their lack of alcoholic drinks.

Just help yourself to soft drinks and say 'I've got one thanks' if anybody asks or accept an alcoholic drink and don't drink it/tip it away. I'm sure there have been countless occasions when you've had a soft drink and not felt the need to qualify it.

2015isgoingtobeBIG · 07/03/2015 23:29

The antibiotic from a dentist is metronidazole and it is one of the few you absolutely cannot drink with and a dental infection wouldn't stop you driving...or exercising unfortunately so one won't allow the other excuse. Could you just say a group of you at work have decided to try going sober for lent after seeing the Macmillan/cancer research adverts and only mention it if there's a question raised about you not drinking.

Tbh my mum twigged there was a possibility even without seeing me. Yes, she knew we'd been going through a cycle of ivf but when I eventually fessed up at 12 weeks she said her and my sister had thought I was pregnant snd were working out when I might tell them....and I thought I'd be great at distracting them with talk of moving house and my Dh's new job (all true)! Would it be the end of the world if your mum guessed? Is she likely to ask/say anything it just keep it to herself?

jasper · 07/03/2015 23:39

don't lie.
Just say you don't want to drink. You are overthinking this. No one cares, really .
and Congratulations!

scarednoob · 08/03/2015 02:16

I thought the most convincing I heard was my brother's wife - she said that they were trying, so didn't want to drink. She was actually 6 weeks pregnant. It was truthful enough but nobody asked any more questions.

However it does depend if you even want to share that much! X

BellMcEnd · 08/03/2015 03:18

Metronidazole from the dentist for an abscess. You absolutely can't drink on this as the chances you'll projectile vomit Congratulations!

JessieMcJessie · 08/03/2015 03:57

Can't believe you told your fitness instructor but won't tell your own mother.
How about the truth? What's so bad about your Mum knowing if (God forbid) something goes wrong?

Annabannbobanna · 08/03/2015 03:59

I agree with PP, you are over thinking this and massively drawing attention. Would you like a drink? No thanks. Job done! unless you are wanting to draw attention and invite guesses?

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 08/03/2015 05:10

My pregnancy has made my Eczema really flare up, so told PILs that I was on an exclusion diet to suss out the trigger.
Worked for me but having a very angry looking (and bloody itchy!) rash helped that one.

Other times I've happened to be driving, doesn't really work when it's overnight though. I think feigning an awful hangover the night before is the way to go. Antibiotics are a definite eyebrow raiser for me! The glass switch is also very effective too, though easier at parties than dinner.

Gunpowder · 08/03/2015 05:18

When I was just, just pregnant this time, I went home for the weekend for a huge family gathering, tons of champagne and celebration. I took one sip as we toasted and then just kept 'leaving' my glass in different rooms. Other people thought it was theirs and drank it! When I couldn't face breakfast on bank holiday, DM assumed I was hungover.

Showy · 08/03/2015 07:30

Seriously, it's always antibiotics, always metronidazole and it's always a woman of child bearing age suddenly making a big fuss about what is or isn't in her glass. You may as well scrawl 'up the duff' across your forehead with permanent marker.

You can't stop other people's thoughts. If they are the sort of person who likes playing guess the pregnant woman, then that's something they do. They're rude and thoughtless.

Do women who drink genuinely never say no thank you to alcohol? Without a song and dance? At this gathering, how much notice will you be taking of everybody else's drinks? Is it just fertile women who have to have an excuse not to drink?

Nobody is that interested in other people's drinks. Just say nothing. If they're rude enough to ask if you're pregnant, you look blankly at them and say "no, are you?"

Congratulations.

Showy · 08/03/2015 07:34

Sorry, that sounded snippy. I'm grumpy at the presumptuous nature of people who like to ask newly pregnant women to bare their soul before time. I find it hugely insensitive. It's just the beginning of pregnant women becoming public property. Starts with the knowing looks and pointed questions, goes through the unsolicited advice and bump grabbing, the inappropriate queries, comments on your delivery method and intensifies with instructions on what to do when the baby's here.

Can you tell I come from a family with a few members who make this kind of thing a sport? It distracts them briefly from guessing your weight and commenting on whether you're an acceptable BMI.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 08/03/2015 07:38

I agree . I have guessed that a few friends and colleagues were pregnant when they began to bleat on about antibiotics. I didn't say anything because it is none of my business so I am sure they thought it was a cunning excuse. It isn't.

jasper · 08/03/2015 10:10

Please , don't lie. Ever. About anything. I hate people telling "white " lies because they they think it makes something appear more convincing.
It doesn't.
I have a colleague who tells "harmless" lies all the time. It's so inauthentic.

jasper · 08/03/2015 10:12

And as a dentist who quite correctly prescribes antibiotics once in a blue moon, I particularly hate that lie.

And all the questions that would follow about what was the matter with your teeth . You would end up telling more and more lies. To your MUM. not good

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 08/03/2015 10:18

I would have told my mum & dad early I think in your case... although my dad can't keep a secret so maybe not....
Showy I feel your pain. Why do people always try and "guess" when clearly it is the last thing the possibly pregnant woman wants!

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 08/03/2015 10:21

I agree to Hearts. That is why I never say anything even when it is totally obvious. She will tell me when the time is right.

But that does make people believe excuses 'worked ' when in fact they just flagged something I would otherwise not have noticed.

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 08/03/2015 18:18

I wish I didn't have to lie - I often don't but this truly depends on the group I'm with. Spending a weekend with MIL and going out for two very nice meals, where I'd normally have wine, would have been disastrous though. She is one of those people who loves guessing and I think it's awful. I would love to be in a world where people respected someone's decision on when to announce such personal news but sadly some people feel the need to use it to demonstrate how clever they are for figuring it out. I don't like fibbing but sadly it's a self preservation thing.

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