Mixed feelings.
Work night out. Nice to catch up with everyone outside the office, but I have to hold my story up.
My manager knows my little secret and has been discrete as promised.
I have two problems. Food, and drink.
I'm not a raging alcoholic by any stretch of the imagination but I would normally partake in a little celebratory tipple with my mates.
Ahead of time I had some cock and bull story about having to drive at the end of the night but nobody really bought it.
Plan B. Have a glass of wine but don't drink it. Just hold the glass whilst chatting and don't make any suspicious movements.
Plan B part 2. Water with ice, a slice and a straw looks suspiciously like V&T. Only works if you are getting your own drinks in.
The food options were not such a big problem. I called the restaurant ahead to check for raw eggs and switch sauces and just had to give them a wink when we arrived to identify myself.
I think I managed to pull it off.
Clinical comment
Simon Mehigan, Consultant Midwife
As a male midwife I have worked and socialised for many years with women and they notice everything! Particularly when one of their colleagues / friends suddenly isn't drinking, is really watching what they eat or is wearing "baggy" clothes. This isn't unique to midwives I'm sure but a quality most women have unlike the male population who quite often don't notice things even when they are staring us in the face! I'm really impressed Anna with how you are thinking of ways to keep your news secret until you feel ready to share it.
There can be lots of conflicting advice around what you should and shouldn't eat when pregnant. The Pregnancy Book and the NHS Choices website together with www.eatwell.gov.uk provide the most up to date information.
Make sure you have breakfast everyday as this can help you to avoid snacking on foods later on the day that may not be as healthy for you and your baby.
A healthy diet that includes a variety of fruit and vegetables should supply you with all the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need so we don't routinely encourage women to take vitamin tablets when pregnant. However if not already Anna I would encourage you to start taking Folic Acid supplements as these have been shown to reduce the risk of your baby developing a condition known as spina bifida and other neural tube defects. The recommended dose of folic acid if planning to get pregnant and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is 400 micrograms.
I would also encourage you take a vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms. A lack of vitamin D can affect your baby's bones and cause a condition known as rickets.
If you do decide to take a multivitamin whilst pregnant make sure it is one designed for pregnancy as this will have the right doses for you and your baby.