Hiding early pregnancy

[Butningembers]

I am currently 8.5 weeks pregnant and have a bit of a situation as I have my work Xmas do next week. I feel like I'm just going to say that I'm on anti biotics and let people think what they like
My issue is, that I have a close friend at work who has been going through fertility issues and IVF for many years. We often walk together at lunch time and she is very open about it. I don't want to risk her finding out through the rumour mill so wondering if I should speak to get face to face before the work do to let her know. I know she'll be happy for me but I know deep down it'll also upset her as she knows we haven't been trying for long at all as we only got married recently and I openly said it was off the cards before the wedding.
I have had an early scan and we saw a heartbeat so for now things are progressing as they should be. I'd also tell her if I was to MC
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Should I tell her before she suspects anyway next week? It's likely I'll spend a large portion of the work do with her so she'll know I'm not drinking (which is very unlike me!)

@TheMaenads what a pro. It didn't really enter my head to pretend I was drinking and accept drinks then abandon them.....probably what I usually do anyway, although only when the drink is less full 🤣

Can you drive? Just drive?

And if not say 'I'm trying not to drink so much'

@isthesolution defo not an option, they'll clock it straight away as I'm never the driver and it's easy for me to get home by bus or train

Definitely message your friend before, if she clocks on and thinks your pregnant on the night out it'll potentially dampen her night as she may spend it speculating. Where as if she's told a few days prior she's got a few days to process then will (hopefully) be able to just focus on enjoying her night.

If you are a bit of a boozer on nights out, and are going to pretend to drink, maybe say you can't drink "much" because you aren't feeling 100% or on meds, or need to be up very early. That way you can swill around one or two glasses, and people won't keep offering you a drink, and you won't feel pressured to pretend to keep up with others all night.

I’m another one for always having a drink in my hand and pretending to take sips / pouring some down toilet. Worked for me amongst family at a funeral who know that I would always have a drink and with friends at a wedding just after I found out. No one pays much attention to whether you’re actually drinking the drinks in your hand. But agree with a text heads up to your friend, keep it simple and try not to make any assumptions about her feelings x