This is one I often hear from mamas who occasionally enjoy an alcoholic beverage. When they become pregnant, how do they hide the pregnancy and the fact that they will not be drinking when they attend a social gathering prior to a pregnancy announcement?
Here are my two cents on the situation. First, I will give my disclaimer. Disclaimer: I do not drink alcohol period, so this perspective may be different than someone who has been in that situation and may not feel right for everyone in the situation.
1. If Possible, Skip the Social Gathering
Personally, I'd skip the party if that is an option. In my opinion, It sounds like a little too much work to keep up the appearance of drinking and hoping everyone is too drunk to notice you are not drinking alcohol. It seems like a difficult position to be put in, worried someone will catch you and if someone notices, then you have a choice to lie or tell them the truth. I do not like lying and I feel this puts you in a position to be confronted where you may end up lying (not drinking big tonight for XYZ reason, not feeling well) to prevent the pregnancy from being discovered. Even if it's a little white lie or half truth, to me it is still lying.
2. Don't Drink Any Alcohol, Get a Virgin Drink
If it's not possible to skip the party, then I would go with the suggestion of non-alcoholic drinks that look similar to one that have alcohol. Such as a strawberry de cauri, that can be made non-alcoholic or with alcohol, so if someone asks what you are drinking you don't have to lie and say sparkling juice is champagne or wine, when it's not. You can just name the drink without divulging that it is a virgin drink.
3. Politely Decline To Answer Questions
I do agree it isn't anyone's business if you're pregnant or choosing to drink or not, and no one should ask you if you're not drinking because you are pregnant. And if someone dares to, you can always say that's a personal question (or inappropriate to ask), neither confirming, nor denying their claim. This will probably leave one of two impressions that you are pregnant or that they overstep their bounds and hit a sore spot for you, possibly due to infertility or struggling to become pregnant. Either way, it doesn't seem someone is likely to keep up this awkward conversation if you are choosing not to answer them.
Here are my two cents on the situation. First, I will give my disclaimer. Disclaimer: I do not drink alcohol period, so this perspective may be different than someone who has been in that situation and may not feel right for everyone in the situation.
1. If Possible, Skip the Social Gathering
Personally, I'd skip the party if that is an option. In my opinion, It sounds like a little too much work to keep up the appearance of drinking and hoping everyone is too drunk to notice you are not drinking alcohol. It seems like a difficult position to be put in, worried someone will catch you and if someone notices, then you have a choice to lie or tell them the truth. I do not like lying and I feel this puts you in a position to be confronted where you may end up lying (not drinking big tonight for XYZ reason, not feeling well) to prevent the pregnancy from being discovered. Even if it's a little white lie or half truth, to me it is still lying.
2. Don't Drink Any Alcohol, Get a Virgin Drink
If it's not possible to skip the party, then I would go with the suggestion of non-alcoholic drinks that look similar to one that have alcohol. Such as a strawberry de cauri, that can be made non-alcoholic or with alcohol, so if someone asks what you are drinking you don't have to lie and say sparkling juice is champagne or wine, when it's not. You can just name the drink without divulging that it is a virgin drink.
3. Politely Decline To Answer Questions
I do agree it isn't anyone's business if you're pregnant or choosing to drink or not, and no one should ask you if you're not drinking because you are pregnant. And if someone dares to, you can always say that's a personal question (or inappropriate to ask), neither confirming, nor denying their claim. This will probably leave one of two impressions that you are pregnant or that they overstep their bounds and hit a sore spot for you, possibly due to infertility or struggling to become pregnant. Either way, it doesn't seem someone is likely to keep up this awkward conversation if you are choosing not to answer them.
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