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

Original poster

excuses for not drinking?

23 replies

coastalchick · 21/07/2017 18:04

So, I have a few social events in the calendar with friends (which I can't cancel) between now and first scan (i.e. before we can tell anyone our news) (I'm 4 weeks from LMP so 2 weeks in reality) and as I am a BIG drinker, friends are going to notice if I'm not slugging back the vino. Not so bad when we have friends round to us as OH and I have agreed he will pour me a glass and I just won't drink it as then they are less likely to notice.

However, there is one event with girls where I can't use driving as excuse and we are together all day for a boozy day out. What viable excuses can I use for not drinking? What (not too nasty) diseases can I say I have which have antibiotics where you can't drink?!

I don't want them to find out I'm pregnant as they are SO indiscreet and it will be all round everyone (including my boss) before I know it.

OP posts:
BondJayneBond · 21/07/2017 18:10

There's loads of antibiotics that can be taken while drinking alcohol. It's not a great excuse.

Maybe say that you've been to the GP (bit run down or something) and they've advised not drinking etc for a few weeks? Or you've got a massive hangover from the night before with DH and can't face booze today?

Or there's the trick where you walk around with the same glass faking sips and every now and then pretending it's a new drink, or make yourself gin and tonics without the gin....

ForumUsername · 21/07/2017 18:31

You could say you've a kidney infection and are on antibiotics
Even if you can drink on the type of antibiotic you won't feel up to it

Give you an excuse to drink loads of water and/or juice

You'd think no one will ask too many questions for that?

PurpleDaisies · 21/07/2017 18:32

If you say it's antibiotics everyone will know. They probably won't ask you out of politeness but they will know.

ForumUsername · 21/07/2017 18:33

Should give you a couple of weeks of excuses too

You feel one coming on
Have antibiotics
Are getting over it
Etc etc

PurpleDaisies · 21/07/2017 18:33

Posted too soon. I'd buy your own drinks and get a tonic with no gin etc.

thingymaboob · 21/07/2017 18:39

If it were me, I would just tell them.
I know it's personal preference but I told everyone (close group of friends) at 4 weeks and then miscarried at 7 weeks and I found it really nice as people were so supportive and many opened up to me that they'd miscarried too. People are so worried about telling before 12 weeks because of risk of miscarriage / anomalies found on scan but I don't think any of these things should necessarily be kept secret. That's just me.

Chrisinthemorning · 21/07/2017 18:42

I think I'm getting cystitis? No antibiotics yet but drink cranberry and go to the loo a lot?

On a serious note I have had a 7 week mc
and a 14 week tfmr, would probably tell close friends tbh.

TickleMcTickleFace · 21/07/2017 18:45

If you're all on Facebook make a big thing of posting a picture the night before of you "drinking" so holding a glass, or just of a glass on the table. Then any excuse seems more plausible and you can refer to your previous night drinking.

pinkspeckle · 21/07/2017 18:49

Just say abnormal liver function tests! I actually had that following blood tests so didn't get questions even though I was also pregnant!!

SerfTerf · 21/07/2017 18:53

"I've given up drinking". Poker face.

Remember that not drinking alcohol is a legitimate choice that adults ARE allowed to make, although sometimes in this country, you'd wonder.

If you're too keen to supply reasons, you'll come off as suspicious and people will see straight through it.

If you're really pushed just say "health reasons" AND LEAVE IT AT THAT Wink

mrsbumblebees · 21/07/2017 19:00

Its really tricky - I sympathise! As all my friends know, I LOVE a glass of wine and it is pretty much unheard of for me to turn one down so trying to keep up this facade for 12 weeks was very challenging and I did get rumbled - of course I denied it (I was about 9 weeks at the time) and the friend who blurted out the question was mortified when I did tell everyone a few weeks down the line as she hadn't meant to put me on the spot in front of everyone!

Suggestions below but none of these are that convincing if you have to use them more than once (other than driving, and that obviously only works if you have a car!!)

  • Antibiotics (for cystitis?)
  • You are driving
  • Bad hangover!
  • Feeling nervous/stressed about something and can't stomach a drink
  • Recovering from a bug?
  • Migraine

I think if you can get away with pretending to drink (i.e. holding a glass but not having any, or making g&ts/cocktails but not putting any booze in yours) that arouses less suspicion than an excuse does, but it can be tricky to pull this off for 12 weeks!

tootsieglitterballs · 21/07/2017 19:03

Say you are taking metronidazole - can't drink during or for 3 days after. One of the reasons for taking it is bacterial vagenosis - tell them that and they won't ask any more questions!!

ememem84 · 21/07/2017 19:07

I hated this. All the speculation. Luckily dh and I share the driving on nights out as taxis home here are ridiculously expensive. So one of us always drives.

eyestotheskies · 21/07/2017 19:13

I would just get the round in and get a non alcoholic beer in a glass, or a soda water / tonic etc with no spirit in ... or just say you're a bit skint so can't do rounds and go to the bar on your own. As long as you have a drink in front of you no one questions it really

Oysterbabe · 21/07/2017 19:31

The only excuse that works is pretending to drink. Antibiotics is so obvious but if you go with it hopefully they'll be polite enough to pretend to believe you.

I completely understand not wanting to announce before the scan, I wouldn't have wanted to discuss an early miscarriage or tfmr with anyone.

manyaslip · 21/07/2017 19:34

Personally, I found it easier to just bail on the booziest social everts in those very early days rather than trying to formulate a plausible excuse for not drinking. Although I appreciate that it's not ideal to cancel on people and sometimes you do have to go along. It's tricky. TBH I think it's better to just tell people you're pregnant. That way, they can support you whatever happens.

Congrats by the way!

Elledouble · 21/07/2017 19:37

I told people I'd had a tummy problem ("I'll spare you the details!") and I couldn't face a drink. Got away with it too!

AccrualIntentions · 21/07/2017 19:54

While in the early stages of pregnancy I variously gave up alcohol for Lent, was hungover from the night before/didn't want to drink because it would be a heavy one the next day, on antibiotics for an ear infection and had a few "dodgy tummies".

Lalilulelo · 21/07/2017 21:05

Is Shloer no longer in action?

Jessiecat27 · 21/07/2017 22:02

Text them the night before to say you have cystitis, you still want to go but you'll have to forgoe the drinking for one night! Then you have an excuse to order water or cranberry juice and just nip the loo a lot!

Saz626 · 21/07/2017 22:05

My sister had a similar problem when she was in the early part of her pregnancy. She was out with work friends and really didn't want work knowing so soon on. She just bought her own drinks and left the alcohol out. If someone bought her one she pretended to drink it and would just nip to the loo to pour some out each time. She said it ended up being quite funny in the end and a nice tail to tell about her pregnancy.

Original poster
coastalchick · 21/07/2017 22:24

Thanks ladies. All fabulous ideas! I really can't cancel as the queen bee will kick off at me (this has happened before). But you've all given me great ideas! Think what I'll do is say I've got kidney problems again (as had them in my early 20's) so can't drink as undergoing loads of tests again. I def can't tell this group. I live in a small place and it will spread like wildfire!!! Plus I just don't trust them. It's not my closest group of friends (who I do trust but who also wouldn't give me shit for not drinking)

OP posts:
fannyanddick · 22/07/2017 07:54

Another option could be 'we're trying for a baby and don't want to take risk/maximise fertility. Also closest to the truth.

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