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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Excuses for not drinking

34 replies

samidolls · 01/06/2017 12:06

I need some inspiration, we're going out with my parents this weekend. Going to the cinema, then for a bite to eat "and a few drinks".

My parents are really pushing the drinks part (or maybe it just seems this way as I can't) and I need a good excuse to fob them off with!

The standard antibiotics excuse won't cut it. I'm a victim of my own circumstance and see and chat with my mum far too much for her to accept that with no previous mention or complaining about the wait at the doctors!

We're planning to tell all the parents on fathers day and we want to keep it that way so its after the first midwife visit (Tuesday eek!) and so no one set gets a cob on for not knowing first (trust me it would happen....)

So yeah- please inspire me!

OP posts:

guineapig1 · 01/06/2017 12:07

Can you offer to drive?

Blisss · 01/06/2017 12:08

Say you have a migrane, you don't want to let them down so you'll still go but just hold off on the drinking for now?

Saying that you'd have to sit there and pretend to be ill the whole time so maybe not the best excuse. The thing is people always assume you're pregnant when you don't want to drink. You can just deny it and then surprise them on Father's Day.

ScarletSienna · 01/06/2017 12:10

Yes be the driver!

Sparklyuggs · 01/06/2017 12:10

Stomach bug the day before?

MugwumpSupreme · 01/06/2017 12:14

Get to the bar first and buy a round with yours as a 'gin' and tonic or a Becks Blue poured into a glass. Excuses are seen through a mile off. Drink without drinking!

HattiesBackpack · 01/06/2017 12:14

some urgent appointment/work needing doing the next morning you need to keep a clear head for ?

UndersecretaryofWhimsy · 01/06/2017 12:18

Either drive, get to the bar yourself and order a 'fake' drink like a tonic with lime, or order a glass of wine and then simply toy with it all evening, maybe taking a very occasional sip. People notice when you say no to a drink, but they never notice whether you drink the drink you're holding. Have used this strategy several times.

Also, no one ever believes a woman of childbearing age about the antibiotics thing, even if it's true.

MissBax · 01/06/2017 12:19

I'd say water infection or thrush, and can say it to your mum quietly - not something you'll necessarily want to shout about. Might stop further questions

Spinachinmyteeth · 01/06/2017 12:20

Hangover?

OlennasWimple · 01/06/2017 12:24

Do you have a job where you might need to take a call in the evening?

Touch of food poisoning the day before?

Original poster

samidolls · 01/06/2017 12:24

now come the tricky bit! I'm with my mum all day saturday before we go out sunday. We're doing pretty muddy in the morning and going to a family BBQ in the evening. I can easily get out of drinking at the BBQ as they live across town so somebody always has to drive there and I'm not a big drinker as it is.

I think I'm leaning towards a dodgy tummy for the BBQ, it wouldn't be that far from the truth as pregnancy seems to have mostly affected my stomach! At this point I'm almost hoping for a bout of morning sickness just for a change! (almost!)

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 01/06/2017 12:28

Just tell them! They're your parents. Never understood this not telling.

MissBax · 01/06/2017 12:29

That's even better cos you can plant the seed on Saturday that you're not feeling very well and on the Sunday say it's just gotten worse!

Blisss · 01/06/2017 12:31

How far are you?

Original poster

samidolls · 01/06/2017 12:41

I'm 7 weeks exactly today. We want to wait until we can tell them all at the same time (And the brothers and sisters). His family are very very touchy and if somebody knows before some one else all hell will break loose.

We agreed we want to do something a bit special to tell them about their first grandchild (it's the first for all 3 sets of parents) so settles for Father's Day. DH initially didn't want to say anything until after the magic 12 weeks but this is what we've decided!

OP posts:

DorotheaBeale · 01/06/2017 12:50

Please don't turn up to a party telling people you have an upset stomach/stomach bug. If I was a fellow guest, I'd be worried about catching it and think you were quite inconsiderate.

(I was once at a party where someone really did have a stomach bug and she passed it on to nearly everyone else who was there.)

UndersecretaryofWhimsy · 01/06/2017 12:53

Just tell them! They're your parents. Never understood this not telling

I don't tell my parents because when I have a hard time, my mother's reaction makes it harder. I would rather go through a miscarriage without her knowing than tell her I was pregnant then have to tell her I'd lost it.

Plenty of reasons people might legitimately choose to not tell their parents.

RedStripeIassie · 01/06/2017 13:00

I've found that unless people are thinking you're already pregnant they don't notice if you buy a glass of wine and just lightly sip it and if you're zero alcohol at the moment just leave however much you want to. If there's booze in front of you no one notices wether you drink it or not.

Jessiecat27 · 01/06/2017 13:19

You might not be able to but try going into your local pharmacy and ask for an empty box of antibiotics! Hopefully your parents won't ask to see the tablets but you can always say they must have fell out, or tell them you're on antibiotics the day before and if they don't believe you, offer to show them the box! I work in pharmacy and if someone came in and asked and we had a spare box I'd happily give it out, good luck!

Bear2014 · 01/06/2017 14:07

Order the same drink as your OH. Take one sip or just hold it. Wait for him to finish most of his drink, discreetly swap drinks. Don't make up any kind of excuse as it will be like a beacon screaming 'I'm secretly pregnant!!'

kikibo · 01/06/2017 16:25

I would either opt to buy the drinks myself or make my hubby and then order something that can have alcohol in it, but hasn't. G&Ts without the G, mojitos without the rum, alcohol free beers, etc.

Or, a bit more elaborate, go and speak to the staff at a particular bar about this, reserve a table, go to that bar and just order drinks (they'll give you one without alcohol), though all bar staff need to be aware of this which might be a bit tricky.

Antibiotics, toying with drinks all evening, sneaking drink in your hubby's glass, is all a bit obvious.

Alternatively you could always just tell them. People shouldn't be childish about these things.

picklemepopcorn · 01/06/2017 16:49

Say you've a cracking headache, feeling a bit dehydrated...
Overdid it last week so need a week off.
Experimenting to see whether alcohol is stopping you sleeping...
So thirsty, really fancy a Coke/lemonade/etc.

Oysterbabe · 01/06/2017 19:25

Pretending to drink is the most successful strategy. Either as pp said, keep swapping with OH or go to the bar and order a tonic with a slice of lime or something.

onedsrightnow · 01/06/2017 20:33

Definitely pretend to drink, I did this at a hen at 6 weeks and will be doing similar at wedding at 12 weeks(sat before scan!) it's the only thing that works!

picketfences · 02/06/2017 02:06

Order an alcoholic drink, get your husband to order the same drink, and swap glasses throughout the night. He will end up very drunk 😆 and you'll be sober.

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