Excuses for not drinking during pregnancy

[Bean20]

So without sounding like a complete wino, i am someone who usually enjoys a drink or two on the weekend and since we have had our BFP I have obviously stopped.

I am now convinced that everyone will notice as we have quite a few social events coming up in the next few weeks that would usually involve alcohol! At a party this weekend I am going to 'pretend' to drink and my OH is going to be my wingman and take any that are brought for me!
Has anyone else struggled to hide it through this? 12 weeks feels like forever away I think I can only get away with the excuses so many times 😂

Better to pretend to drink imo, much more subtle

I think being on “ antibiotics” or some other fictional medications might be good otherwise drink get drinks that look alcoholic ( tonic water with ice and lime etc)

Definitely pretending to drink is the way to go. I got away with this quite a few times. After others have had a few drinks they won't notice!

Congratulations! I had this when I found out earlier this year & had a lot of social events coming up. If you think you can get away with it you could drink tonic water, pretending it's a G&T? Or same with another mixer. Or if anyone asks say that you tried dry Jan and liked it, so are sticking with it for another couple of months? Or throw them off the scent by saying that you had a few too many the night before, so can't face drinking that night? If you're posting pics on social media of cocktails that are actually mock tails, then no one will think you're not drinking?

Be the designated driver when you can. Drink unspecified lightly sparkling drinks and buy your own drinks. Sympathies. Both times I've found I was pregnant in early December, so Christmas with the soft cheese and alcohol was a nightmare as I wasn't far enough along to tell people but couldn't partake.

There is no good excuse. The antibiotics one fools no-one. Rather drink something that looks alcoholic.

“Still feeling a bit hungover” works well, as does “had a late night last night”, or “think I’m coming down with a cold”. Or “got a run/big day out/work early tomorrow morning”.

I agree though, if it is the same friends every week for the next 12 weeks, they will smell a rat.

Any family history or links with the church that would allow you to decide to give up alcohol for Lent?

You can’t hide it. As a one off, maybe, but on multiple occasions everyone will know you’re pregnant.

Most people don't pay that much attention and lots of excuses will draw more attention.

Just drink soft drinks that look alcoholic.

At the start of March time you could doba dry monthm

Thanks everyone.
I think at the party I'll get away with pretending. I can try the designated driver and I've already done the pictures with mocktails which I thought was genious 😂 hangover is a good one because everyone who knows me knows I am an absolute wimp with a hangover. There's some excuses for the rest of the month!
The only time I think I'll get caught out is we're usually quite social with my boyfriend's parents who insist on pouring a huge gin when we are round, maybe I can ask my boyfriend to pour mine and just not put the gin in!

Don't make excuses!! As soon as you make an excuse people will guess. Just pretend to be drinking. You'll be amazed how little people notice.

Lent is a great idea! It will either be very obvious or a fantastic excuse for all of March

Gin and tonic without the gin.

Just be the driver, no need for excuses about not drinking then. I'd hope none of your friends would expect a driver to drink.

If you go down the antibiotics route, you could hint that it's for something, erm, intimate... absolutely nobody asked me any follow up questions when I used that one

I think sometimes people guess but don’t say anything, although there are some idiots who think it’s funny to say ‘you’re not pregnant, are you?!’

Just don't say anything. Nobody will be monitoring what's in your glass. As soon as a woman of fertile age starts making excuses not to drink, she invites speculation. Do what any non pregnant woman or man would do and make no comment whatsoever.

Want a drink Bean? I'm okay with this one for now thanks.

Somebody pours you a drink? Thank you v much and give it away/tip it away on the quiet.

I found that "no thanks, I'm pregnant" worked quite well!

Straight to the point and saves any slip ups or having people annoyingly speculating or encouraging me to just take a drink.

I'm not one for keeping things quiet though 😂

I found out I was pregnant on 1Dec so all the Xmas celebrations were difficult, I pretended to drink for most of them and avoided a couple (was feeling pretty much) as knew excuses wouldn't work. Drinking just tonic seemed to be easiest, at a wedding I walked around with a prosecco for ages pretending to drink, with my husband sneakily swings! I then said I was doing dry January which took me up to 12 weeks. Amazingly no one seems to have noticed as they've been surprised when I've said I'm pregnant.

I just told people before 12 weeks tbh

Having a (fictional) UTI is an excellent reason to not be drinking, if you’re comfortable using that as an excuse!

Congratulations

Pretending to drink is the only way! Antibiotics is a giveaway.

I had one of my best friends hen do abroad when I was about 8 weeks pregnant, just as sickness was starting to kick in. Managed to pretend to drink the first night and no one batted an eye lid!

Second day we went sea kayaking...well I get sea sick anyway, but ended up having to confess at why I was still throwing up 6 hours later 😂

Luckily they were a bunch who I didn't mind knowing anyway.

Pretending to drink definitely the way forward - at a party style setting far more easy to get away with than say a sat down meal.

Congratulations!

If you're pretending to be on antibiotics then you may as well wear a neon sign saying 'I'm pregnant'.