You’re pregnant! Now what? If you’re like countless women, you may be wondering how to keep your pregnancy a secret. Do you want to wait until you’re ready to talk about it? Is your pregnancy unplanned, and you’re not sure what you’re going to do? Do you simply plan on keeping your pregnancy a secret as long as possible? Regardless of why you want to keep the secret, there are several things you can do to hide your pregnancy.
If you are trying to keep your pregnancy a secret, the good news is that you aren’t alone. Many women want to hide their pregnancy for several reasons. Luckily, there are plenty of resources to help you through the challenges of hiding a pregnancy. This article will discuss nine clever ways to keep your pregnancy a secret as long as possible. Let’s discuss!
How Long Can You Hide a Pregnancy?
The first question most women consider is “How long you can hide a pregnancy?” This doesn’t just vary from woman to woman, but also from pregnancy to pregnancy. Some women don’t look pregnant at all, even right before they give birth. Others show clear signs of body changes as early as twelve weeks.
How long you can hide your pregnancy depends heavily on your body type and how you carry the baby. For example, shorter women might show signs of changes early on, while taller people might carry their body changes differently. Besides weight fluctuations, there are also some other changes you’ll go through during your pregnancy. These include:
- Morning sickness
- Frequent urination
- Lightheadedness
- Visible veins
- Skin changes
- Breast changes
- Emotional symptoms
Keep in mind that every pregnancy is unique. Even if you’ve had an easy pregnancy in the past, your second pregnancy can look significantly different. Plus, changes to your body can range from mild to severe. Luckily, there are several ways you can hide the obvious signs that you are pregnant.
Keeping Your Pregnancy a Secret
If you are wondering how to keep your pregnancy a secret, these tips will help. Just as body changes vary from woman to woman, it’ll be easier to hide your pregnancy from some people than it is to hide it from others. Using some or all of these methods will help:
Wear Loose-Fitting Clothing
Wearing loose-fitting clothing is a great way to hide your baby bump, especially as it grows. However, you should stay away from maternity clothes. While they seem like an obvious choice, most maternity lines are designed to show off your baby bump. They are also a drastically different style for most women. So, it can draw attention when you suddenly change your look.
Instead of going for maternity clothes, buy clothes a size or two larger than you typically wear. Oversized t-shirts, sweaters, or flowy summer dresses are great options to hide the early bump. Just be sure to choose pieces of clothing that fit over your body nicely.
The more layers, the better. Wearing layers can help hide baby bumps, especially in the fall or winter. Winter coats, blazers, cardigans, and accessories like scarves and shawls are excellent options to hide a growing belly. Shades of black may also be a naturally slimming color.
Don’t Inform Children
If you have other children, keep your pregnancy a secret from them until you are ready to tell others. Kids aren’t the best secret keepers and are more likely to let the secret slip. If you have young children in your immediate family, ask their parents to avoid talking about it in front of them as well. As exciting as a new baby can be, children should be the last to know if you want to tell people at your own pace.
Order Your Own Drinks
If you are of legal drinking age and suddenly turn down a drink, this is often a classic giveaway that you are pregnant. Luckily, there are some excuses you can use to keep the red flags at bay. Order your own drinks when you go out. If someone questions you, tell them that you are detoxing or on a diet. You can also offer to be the designated driver at social events. It’s a perfect excuse and an easy way to get out of the pressure of drinking. Plus, your friends will thank you!
Say No
As much as you may hate to turn down invites, laying low and staying home is often your best bet if you want to hide your pregnancy. This is particularly true if you have symptomatic morning sickness or trouble covering your growing baby bump. Since hiding your pregnancy gets more difficult with each trimester, wait until the second and third trimester to use this method. Remember, the more often you say no, the more your friends and family might question what’s going on.
Have One Confidant
It can help to tell just one person that you are pregnant. Find someone who you trust, so you can confide in them when you need to talk. Someone close to you can also help you hide your pregnancy from others. When you choose a confidant, you should also try to go with someone who lives close. They can jump in to help you when you have appointments or other obligations that your partner can’t make.
Stock Your Workplace
It’s harder to hide morning sickness when you’re sitting at a desk all day during your 9–5 job. Luckily, there are countless ways to curb your symptoms. Stock your desk with anti-nausea medications, healthy drinks, and protein-packed snacks. Keep in mind that you are eating for two, so you’ll get hungrier than you usually do. You also need to eat more frequently and hydrate as much as possible to keep you and your baby safe and healthy.
Dental Excuse
Having frequent doctor appointments can make your family suspicious. Hiding regular doctor appointments can be an even bigger challenge at work. How do you ask for time off for appointments without raising a red flag? If you’re trying to hide your pregnancy from your boss or coworkers, blame your teeth. Extensive dental work usually requires multiple appointments for procedures and follow-ups. Since prenatal appointments are spread out, you can easily use the dental excuse to hide your pregnancy when you need time off of work.
Avoid Touching Your Stomach
Most pregnant women have a habit of resting their hands on their bumps. This can be an easy clue that you are expecting. While there is nothing wrong with touching your bump, don’t do it in public if you want to keep your pregnancy a secret. If you are wondering how to hide your pregnancy in the third trimester especially, avoid doing this as much as you can to decrease suspicion.
Disguise Your Coffee
When pregnant, it’s often recommended that you decrease your caffeine intake. If you’re usually an avid coffee drinker, some people might suspect that you are expecting. The best way to reduce your coffee intake without raising suspicions is to fill your mug or Starbucks cup with water instead. If your coworker suddenly realizes you’re not getting coffee when it’s their turn to buy, tell them that your doctor recommended cutting back your caffeine intake.
Looking for More Tips? Texas Adoption Center Is Here to Help!
Whether you haven’t decided what to do about an unplanned pregnancy or you simply don’t want others knowing you’re pregnant, there are several ways to hide your pregnancy. If you need additional tips on how to keep your pregnancy a secret, Texas Adoption Center can help.
Our supportive team can help you explore all your options and decide what you will do before letting your family, friends, and coworkers know you are pregnant. Our experts can offer additional resources to help you keep your pregnancy a secret. We’re here to provide you with the advice, resources, and support you need to ease the stress of an unplanned pregnancy.
Contact us online today or give us a call at (512) 893-7943 to learn more about hiding your pregnancy until you’re ready!
