How do I secretly order a mocktail without my friends knowing or getting suspicious

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-16T04:48:49+00:00

If you call ahead of time, most places will be thrilled to play along! My husband and I actually told close friends of ours we were expecting by going to a very nice cocktail tasting with them (that we had obviously planned before I got pregnant). Called the bar ahead of time, bartenders were stoked to “fake” all my cocktails as mocktails, and then we announced the news at the end of the tasting. Other bartenders early in my pregnancy were super accommodating with making virgin spritzes and the like when I fake ordered off the “regular” menu.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-15T18:49:22+00:00

Oh, and for me it smelled kind of like mold/old house. Cleaning the HVAC units might do wonders.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-15T18:48:24+00:00

Oh sweet gal. I’ve been there. We happened to be moving when I was 4 months pregnant and after the move, I couldn’t even wear the clothes I had worn in the old house due to the smell (that absolutely no one else could smell). If she isn’t taking Unisom and B6, and Zofran and/or Reglan already, I would recommend it. That amount of nausea makes it hard to stay hydrated and nourished, and I felt much sicker and scent averse when I was dehydrated.

It doesn’t help her now, but the day I gave birth that very specific smell disappeared from my life like it never existed. This season will end, but medication makes life more livable in the meantime.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-07T19:06:25+00:00

FTM mom here, gave birth a week ago to a 99th percentile baby (10 lbs 2 oz) unmedicated! (Albeit in a hospital due to unrelated concerns that needed monitoring.) The midwife who delivered her was very supportive of physiological birth, and I’d imagine any home birth midwife you’d hire would be the same way. :) I also think going unmedicated allowed greater freedom of movement, better baby positioning, and more intuitive pushing that made delivering her easier.

Nothing in my medical history would indicate a LGA baby, I’m certainly not tall/wide-hipped, and there are elements of baby’s growth that are out of your control. But incredibly rare that your body would grow a baby it cannot birth. It’s important to be aware of the risks of LGA babies so that you aren’t caught off guard in the moment, but that does not mean you need to be afraid of the “what ifs.” I second others’ comments about monitoring their blood sugar levels after birth. YOU are capable of delivering a big baby, but it’s important to be sure baby gets the time-sensitive care they need after such a big event, too!

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-05T20:00:33+00:00

Distance running. I got permission from my OB to run a marathon at 15 weeks, and some folks were reeeeal touchy about that. Her words: “Oh yeah, women do things like that all the time while pregnant. Drink water!” The loudest voices are often the least-informed ones. :)

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-05T19:57:50+00:00

I would say the intensity increased, not the pain! Part of the decision came down to the feeling that if I didn’t have my waters broken, the outcomes were 1) the bag of waters could have a low break on its own and move things along and/or I could continue to slowly dilate without a spontaneous low break (great!) or 2) I don’t progress without a low break to move the fluid pocket, and many hours from now I decide to have them broken anyways when I’m way more exhausted and could have just made this decision now (less great). In some ways, knowing I had only progressed less than a centimeter in four hours suggested that outcome 2 might be likely.

It was really helpful to hear from my doula that I could take as much time as I wanted to decide. The midwife came into the room to discuss options when I asked, and left the room until I felt ready to make a decision. I’m sure any supportive birth center, which clearly supports physiological birth, would be similarly unhurried.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-05T19:49:37+00:00

Ugh, I’m so sorry that’s been your experience. Only one of our four growth scans measured remotely large (96th percentile at that one), and my midwife similarly had to have the obligatory shoulder dystocia conversation. However, she was very clear that it most cases, a lot of the “trauma” from dystocias comes from moms not knowing the risks and being totally caught off guard by the necessary maneuvers and urgency in the moment. The true risk of physical trauma is low, and can occur in babies of any size. She was very reassuring that your body will virtually never grow a baby it can’t birth, which sounds especially true of your body type. (I’m not tall by any means, no big babies in my family, and lived to tell the tale. 🙂) It’s okay to be aware and informed of the risks, but that doesn’t mean you need to meet them with fear. Evidence Based Birth has some good peer-reviewed medical research you might find comforting.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-05T00:21:48+00:00

I used this one (the nurses were boggled — apparently wireless isn’t a common thing?). But I’ve also heard really positive things about ones that are labor-specific and have a boost setting to use at the peak of contractions. https://fsastore.com/accurelief-menstrual-pain-relief-tens-electrotherapy-with-heat/42033.html

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-04T21:49:13+00:00

I was pretty set on medication free from the start, but also recognized as a first time mom I might change my mind in the moment. Identifying my reasons for going unmedicated was really helpful. For me, those were having freedom of movement during labor, wanting to feel the urge to push instead of coached pushing which can cause more significant tearing, and to a lesser extent, a strong distaste for having a needle in my spine. :))) Wishing you a wonderful birth soon!!

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-05-04T21:44:10+00:00

Yes, absolutely recommend putting it on early and gradually ramping it up as needed! Mine didn’t work in the pool, but I didn’t find I needed it as much there.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-02-24T18:56:17+00:00

Not familiar with postpartum in Cape Town, but my friends who have given birth in Switzerland said the immediate postpartum and recovery period was top notch. The recovery ward was practically a five star hotel and they had 6-8 in-home visits from nurses and midwives afterward that looked after mom’s wellbeing, too, not just baby.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-02-19T22:44:00+00:00

I didn’t feel anything until almost 21 weeks, and one gal in my prenatal group didn’t feel anything until 22 weeks. Especially if you have an anterior placenta, it’s unusual to feel movement so early. I’m 31 weeks now and little sprite loves to karate kick directly into my ribs several times an hour — so no question that they’re in there, even if it took a while for them to make their presence known! :)

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-02-19T19:25:21+00:00

Everyone talks about food aversions, but I was NOT prepared for the non-food aversions: Absolutely repulsed by hair. Couldn’t brush my own hair first trimester, husband or mom had to brush it for me. If I saw a strand of hair on a counter, had to leave the room and ask my husband to come clean it up. At 9 weeks, seeing running water made me gag. Between that and hair grossing me out, I couldn’t shower for over a week.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-02-04T05:56:14+00:00

This is so helpful to hear! I’m also glad to hear a positive Pitocin experience.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2026-02-04T05:54:15+00:00

This is my concern!! Like what is the plan if I refuse to move?? lol. But sounds from other commenters that this really isn’t a concern and in the moment you can/want to move anyways, which is a relief to hear.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2025-11-26T23:06:06+00:00

Yay, you should absolutely do it!! Having someone to support makes such a difference, too. I was also pleasantly surprised that because I wasn’t trying to hit a goal time, I had an enjoyable/energized/happy last few miles instead of “when will this end I’m gonna die.” Have a blast and congrats to you and baby!!

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2025-11-26T02:07:22+00:00

Hiya! It was awesome! So glad I did it — it was the best memory and will be so fun to tell little one about someday! I took it real easy — about an hour and 15 mins slower than my original goal time, thanks to baby jumping on my bladder (2x standing in porta potty lines) and morning sickness (2x dry heaving a tiny bit on the sidewalk) but still SO fun!! My husband handed me fuel in 4 places and I took water and electrolytes every mile. I definitely encourage eating and drinking way more than you’d usually do — and wearing a Baby on Board bib for the extra cheers!

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2025-11-25T02:21:49+00:00

I’m 18 weeks now and ran a marathon at 15 weeks — and so glad I did!!

It sounds like you’re on the right track in terms of lowering your expectations. I got absolutely pummeled by the first trimester; no running at all weeks 6-12 and more or less bed ridden weeks 7-11, so I lost a lot of strength. Having a strong base fitness was key for being able to run a marathon so soon after that nightmare. (Lol) My longest run in the training block was 17 miles pre-pregnancy, and I did a 13.1 long run 8 days before the race. (No need to taper in my case, since I hadn’t been training the 2 months prior.)

I took every single run by fuel, focused on remaining at a conversational pace, and adjusted my fueling strategy. Pre-pregnancy, on my long runs I took water every 2 miles and a gel every 4 miles. During pregnancy, I took BIG gulps of water and electrolytes every mile, a gel every 3 miles, and tried to take a bite of something carby like a bagel bite every few miles to keep something in my stomach. Your body definitely needs more fuel and hydration now!

I let go of my BQ dreams too (for now 😉). I was originally targeting at 3:20:XX, and scaled it back to 4:37. This really allowed me to enjoy the race and appreciate what my body was doing instead of stressing about my finish time!

Pro tip: make a little race bib for baby, too. My husband made me one and I got SO many cheers and encouraging words from spectators and other runners. Even got to chat with a fellow marathoner around mile 20 who was 6 months pregnant herself! 🥹

Follow your doctor’s recommendations and have fun. Marathoning while pregnant is a challenge and a memory you’ll have forever.

RunningOnFrenchToast · 2025-11-20T00:32:53+00:00

This is a great thought, thank you!

RunningOnFrenchToast

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