Excuses - Not Telling People We're Pregnant

[someonesmom]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to the site and recently found out I am pregnant. I've been reading many of the post here and the advice and support seem wonderful. I do have a question and would appreciate anyone's feedback.

We don't want to tell anyone that we're expecting until after the first trimester. Problem is my job requires me to be social and drink and have dinner with customers and co-workers several times a week.

What are some excuses I can use to tell my customers and co-workers and friends and family for that matter, why I am not drinking? Anyone that knows me will think it is VERY odd that I'm not enjoying a cocktail! Please help.

[fireshifter]

Thought I'd give you a quick reply. You might have better luck with answers by going over to your due date club. Right now, we're all w/in days/weeks of having babies (or already had them) so our posts are based on that and not a lot of time to do much more than that.

I don't understand why you are 'required' to drink while being social? I would just tell them you have some medical things you're dealing with and decided to lay off alcohol til you have them figured out. It's not their business as to what those medical things are.

If they pressure you, then it's either workplace harrassment or they are not just co-workers but 'friends' and you don't HAVE to go out with them.

Like I said, you're welcome to hang out here, but you'll get a ton more responses over on your due date club since we're all having babies right now.

[DoubleOven]

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[M_of_M]

I would make up some simple story about a recent ER trip or at least a trip to your doctor...where you had an aweful stomach pain (liver pain) and the doc did all the tests, put you on medication and said to avoid alchohol for the next few months. (I actually had something similar to that happen to me and that's what my doctor said). I think that it is better to tell this story before everyone orders drinks, so it looks like you are upset that you can't join them.

And for my friends and family, when I was in my first trimester, this is what I did. When I come to a party/restaurant, I ask for a glass of wine/cocktail, etc right away. So, everything looks "normal" to everyone. Then occasionally I pretend to take a sip and then either give it to my husband or quietly get rid of it. No one ever asked any questions or suspected anything. In fact, after I told them the news at 19 weeks, many kept saying: "but you were drinking!!!"...and were surprised by my "no, I wasn't"

Good luck.

[ehsclt]

this is a perfect time of year to claim that it's a "resolution." To anyone who probes why, you could just explain that it's about discipline, or appreciating alcohol more after you've had a little break from it, health reasons, whatever.

[Nature]

The resolution idea is a great one! I have also ordered a non alcoholic drink and "pretended" it was real before. No one really knows the difference but you. Besides, if anyone sips it.. you can blame the weak alcohol taste on the bartender!