https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:23:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475822 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:14:37 +0000 Reese 475822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go with what others have already suggested. Go early and talk to the manager and make sure they are bringing you virgins the entire time. Pay the $25. Once you tell everyone that you are pregnant you can also tell them about what you did at the brunch (if you are worried they will talk/be curious about it). Everyone can be in amazement at your sly skills. Congratulations by the way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475768 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:57:56 +0000 Bao 475768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get there early, speak with the waitress/manager so there is no way it can be messed up and then still order the special so that way it isn't suspicious. Or you could fake sick that day and avoid the whole situation ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475743 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:52:11 +0000 Revel 475743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely get the special - most of my friends would be suspicious of any of the standard excuses. If it's difficult to get a nonalcoholic drink by getting there early, just don't drink your drink. Usually at these things once everyone else is drinking they won't realize you never drank your first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475713 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:43:25 +0000 AprilK 475713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would pull the get there early and talk to the waitress maneuver. I did this when I was about 6 weeks with my son - told the waitress to bring me O'Douls if I asked for a beer. haha! And I'm always the one being the accountant for the group, so it was easy to make sure no one found out about the three O'Doul's on the bill! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475682 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:33:34 +0000 tororojo 475682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get the special and pretend to drink mimosas the whole time! Occasional sips on a watered down mimosa would be easy to hide, especially if you have a glass of water as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475534 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:01:20 +0000 chrispygal 475534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd get there really early - like 20 minutes or so - and chat with the waitress/manager, etc and just tell them the truth. You don't want anyone to know and are nervous they will pick up on you not drinking. I think a virgin bloody mary is the way to go because you can also easily nurse one of those all brunch and if you get there early enough, you can be sitting with your drink in front of you before anyone arrives. That will take away the stress of ordering as well and the waitress will know to put it in as the $25 special.</p> <p>P.S. I did this and it worked very well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475084 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:32:55 +0000 oliviaoblivia 475084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I understand why you want to wait to tell, but I would be more uncomfortable with all the lying. Could you just say it was your New Years resolution to detox or something like that?<br /> Aside from the no alcohol, you'll still have to explain no soft eggs, deli meat, smoked salmon, etc.<br /> And then once you do come clean, your friends will be whispering about how you drank at that brunch one time and ate eggs Benedict. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475065 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:26:58 +0000 Shutterbug 475065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, antibiotics is the oldest trick in the book if any of your friends have been through this before. </p> <p>I'd probably order a drink and not drink it (fake sip) and then if anyone asks just say you were drinking last night and have a headache. You could say, 'ugh, even the smell of this mimosa' is making me sick'. </p> <p>I'd be too afraid that the waitress would mess up my secret drink, or that she'd make it too obvious (maybe one out of 11 mimosas on the tray has a little straw in it to ID it as the fake) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475032 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:15:29 +0000 Adira 475032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the antibiotics excuse would work if you came up with a problem for having to take them. Like "Ugh, I'm getting over an ear infection and are taking these antibiotics so I'm not supposed to drink!" And THEN beg one of your girlfriends for a sip of their alcoholic beverage since you miss the booze! Just take a sip of something and lament about how you wish you weren't on antibiotics. They'll totally be fooled! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475031 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:15:23 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 475031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Excuses not to drink...New Year's Resolution or TTC b/c you have to stop alcohol and cut back on caffeine or new diet you are trying and this happens to be the week/ month you eliminate alcohol (I once had a diet where I changed one habbit at a time- eat breakfast daily for a week).</p> <p>Or just simply say "no thanks"...</p> <p>If you would like to be truly incognito...buy the $25 brunch special, order a mimosa with gingerale so it fizzles like champagne from the bar, nurse it while you eat, but mostly drink water. The waitress will likely not ask you if you need another b/c your flute will be full. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475017 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:09:43 +0000 Smurfette 475017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably ask the waitress for a virgin drink. As soon as she takes everyone's drink orders, get up and go to the bathroom and flag her down and ask her to keep bringing you virgin ones during the meal. </p> <p>The only other thing I can think of is can you say that you have been sick with a stomach bug and want to take it easy on your stomach still. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475003 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:01:31 +0000 Modern Daisy 475003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Thanks! And that's good to know, I'm really hoping that if I order the drink no one will notice it isn't disappearing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-475002 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:00:56 +0000 Modern Daisy 475002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I know, I was thinking that I would try to somehow ask the waitress for a virgin, but if for some reason I can't then I'd just take the tiniest sips/ pretend to take sips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474981 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:54:23 +0000 Modern Daisy 474981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Trailmix: None of these girls know I am TTC, I have only told one friend who lives in another state and also knows that I"m KU. I know my friends pretty well and I'd be shocked if anyone called me out, but like a lot of other people here - they would know immediately that I was pregnant if I tried any excuse like antibiotics, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474976 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:52:56 +0000 Foodnerd81 474976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: True, especially if it is kind of bizarre. I had a situation like that, before we were even TTC, where my doctor was worried about my liver for some weird reason and I had to wait to get some test results back before I could drink. We went out to dinner with a couple where the wife was pregnant and I did make a big deal about assuring them it was just this crazy liver thing, not pregnancy. But I'm also superstitious about denying the pregnancy-- I'll avoid saying anything but I would never say, No, I'm not pregnant, just in case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474970 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:50:48 +0000 JoJoGirl 474970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I'd definitely ask the waitress for a secret virgin cocktail before sipping on a real one. Not worth it just to trip them up! Then you can drink the whole thing and really throw them off :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474968 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:50:40 +0000 lemondrop 474968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since you are pregnant already, just tell them you are in the process of TTC and have stopped drinking "just in case". No way would I fall for the antibiotic excuse.</p> <p>Ultimately I'm a fan of ordering a virgin drink secretly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474966 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:50:38 +0000 blackbird 474966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to a happy hour and the waitress charged me for a regular margarita (so it was on the bill and everything) but made sure there was no tequila in it. It looked like the real thing, but definitely didn't taste like it! I just excused myself to go to the bathroom after she went back inside to place our order. Noooobody knew. Even in hindsight, I had people asking, "wow was that a real drink?' ha. </p> <p>Hopefully after a couple of drinks themselves, they will just totally glaze over you nursing a fake one. You could also say you had a little too much the night before... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474964 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:50:03 +0000 hilsy85 474964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats!!! So exciting :) when I was in this situation, I ordered drinks but didn't really drink them..no none noticed, esp in big group dinners. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474961 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:49:11 +0000 Modern Daisy 474961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: I'll be just over 6 weeks at brunch!</p> <p>@lawbee11: The antibiotics excuse is what my DH said I should do, but I think they'd still be suspicious. At least they wouldn't say anything though (hopefully)</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: That's a good point about people maybe not noticing in such a big group and I was thinking about that when considering the option of just ordering a drink and maybe taking a sip or two. Unfortunately I don't have anyone I can tell, once I tell one of them all will know within about 30 seconds :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474959 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:48:49 +0000 lawbee11 474959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: @Foodnerd81: I agree that just saying "I'm on antibiotics" would be suspicious, but I feel like it wouldn't be as suspicious if she named the actual "problem" she was having? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474943 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:45:17 +0000 Trailmix 474943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooooh, tough one! Do any of the girls know you're ttc? If so, you could privately mention how you've been cutting back on alcohol per your OB's recommendation and just leave it at that...from my experience, I think most people get that it's pretty rude to call someone out on something like being pregnant so even if they suspect something from you just sipping on one drink, would anyone really come out and say it aloud?<br /> My (terrible) solution to this issue was to essentially hermit until I was ready to tell people but also, as mentioned above,most of my friends knew we were ttc with issues and that I had pretty much stopped drinking over the summer, so it never really raised any eyebrows.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474940 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:44:27 +0000 Foodnerd81 474940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: If anyone pulled the 'antibiotics' trick in my circle, everyone would assume she was pregnant. My friends are all in a baby boom, so are just looking for the next pregnancy. BUT, like I said, they are pretty good about not saying anything even when they suspect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474939 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:44:19 +0000 JoJoGirl 474939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: If my friends knew we were TTC, they wouldn't buy the antibiotics excuse for a minute ;) depends on how close friends they are, I guess! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474934 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:43:33 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 474934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: That's a REALLY good idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474932 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:43:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 474932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a hard time with this too-- I mostly avoided those situations until I was ready to start telling people. However, the few times I did go somewhere and didn't drink, people suspected for sure but were really, really good about not asking questions, which I really appreciated. </p> <p>I think ordering the special and then asking the waitress to bring you OJ in mimosa glasses is a good compromise. Also in a big group like that, it's entirely possible that no one will notice you not drinking the beverage in front of you. Do you have anyone there you could tell who could switch off drinks with you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474927 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:42:03 +0000 JoJoGirl 474927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooh yeah, order the special but tell the waitress to bring you just watered down OJ (or with seltzer) so it looks like a mimosa. Wow that's brilliant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474926 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:41:53 +0000 lawbee11 474926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you'll have to address why you're not drinking--I know my friends would be suspicious. The easiest excuse I can think of is to say you're on antibiotics. In college I got a bacterial infection "down there" (BV) and I remember not being able to drink for at least a week while on the meds. If they ask what you're on them for, you could say that (if you're comfortable with it). I feel like with female problems people just accept it and don't question you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474918 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:39:43 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 474918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! How far along are you and when do you plan on telling people? </p> <p>If you're really worried about it, I would order the $25 special and talk to the waitress or manager in private. That would be the least inconspicuous. Just make sure to order a drink that no one can tell if it's virgin or not (ie: Mimosa, Bloody Mary or a cape cod). </p> <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-advice-for-brunch#post-474913 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:33:53 +0000 Modern Daisy 474913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am going to a boozy brunch this weekend with 11 other girls. I'm not going to announce my pregnancy for another 6 weeks so I need some suggestions on how to handle the obvious fact that I'm not drinking. For me, it is very unusual if I don't have a cocktail in front of me at a restaurant so I know my gf's will know something is up.</p> <p>The restaurant has a brunch special, $25 for an entree and unlimited cocktails, otherwise a la carte if you aren't drinking. I know most (if not all) of the other girls will get the $25 special so I'm wondering if I should just go for it as well so I do not raise suspicions. The only problem with that is clearly I won't be drinking any of my beverage, which might be just as obvious as not ordering one in the first place. </p> <p>I even thought about somehow asking the waitress in secret if she could make me a virgin bloody mary, but then when we go to settle the check people would see that I didn't get the $25 special and ultimately figure out it was not alcoholic. </p> <p>Does anyone have advice or suggestions? Thanks! :) </p>