How to Hide a Pregnancy

Hiding Symptoms and Lifestyle Changes

Develop a fake-out strategy for social drinking situations. If you enjoy an occasional alcoholic drink with family and friends, they’re bound to notice if you go cold turkey. Try discreetly ordering a virgin version of your favorite drink next time you’re out. Offer to mix the drinks yourself if you’re socializing at home—that way, you can mix your own alcohol-free cocktail without anyone noticing. If you’re out with your significant other or a friend who knows your secret, you can both order the same drink. Pretend to sip yours, then sneakily switch drinks when theirs starts to get low. Other people drinking with you are unlikely to notice.

Make an excuse to avoid unsafe foods and drinks. If a fake-out isn’t possible, have a plausible excuse ready for when someone offers you something you can’t eat or drink. You can pass it off as a lifestyle change or health issue unrelated to pregnancy. For example, if someone offers to buy you a cup of coffee, you could tell them you’re trying to cut back on caffeine to improve your sleep at night. If you have to turn away a soft cheese hors d’oeuvre, you can say something like, “My stomach’s been upset a lot lately, so my doctor recommended I try going dairy free.”

Keep crackers and ginger candy on hand to stave off nausea. If you’re plagued with morning sickness, your friends and coworkers may notice that you’re feeling under the weather. Eating ginger candy or sipping ginger-based drinks (like ginger tea or old-fashioned ginger ale) can help settle your stomach and make your symptoms less obvious to others. Bland foods like plain crackers or dry cereal can also help combat nausea. Make sure to sip plenty of water throughout the day, too—getting dehydrated can make morning sickness worse. If you do feel the need to vomit, try going into the bathroom or finding another secluded spot where you can sit with your head between your knees for a few minutes. This may help the feeling pass, or at least buy you time to find some privacy before you have to throw up.

Schedule activities for times when you feel your best. If you know that you tend to feel more tired and queasy at particular times of the day, avoid planning exercise or other tiring activities with friends at those times. Figure out when you’re at your most energetic, and make time then. For example, if feel too tired and sick for a morning jog with a workout buddy, you might suggest doing some afternoon yoga instead. Try saying something like, “I’ve been wanting to check out this new yoga class for a while. Want to give it a shot?” You can also make an excuse, if necessary. If you’re too exhausted or nauseated to participate in an activity, you could say that you’ve got a mild stomach bug or that you’re busy trying to catch up on work deadlines.

Ask those in the know to keep the news to themselves. Even if you’re not ready to tell most people in your life, you might want or need to share your pregnancy news with a select few. If you do tell someone, let them know in simple terms that it’s just between the 2 of you. Ask them to respect your desire for privacy until you’re ready to tell others. Try saying something like, “I wanted to let you know that I’m pregnant, but I’m not ready to share the news with anyone else yet. Please don’t talk to anybody about it without asking me first.”

Dressing to Hide a Baby Bump

Smooth out early pregnancy bloat with shapewear. Hormone changes early in your pregnancy can cause bloating, so you may notice your waist expanding a little even before you get a true “bump.” Try putting on some slimming undergarments, like Spanx or control-top stockings, to tuck in your belly and help you fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes a little longer. If you’re concerned about what the pressure of shapewear might do to your growing baby, don’t worry. The protective layer of amniotic fluid in your womb will keep them nicely cushioned. You might find tight garments more uncomfortable as your body grows, however.

Try slouchy or flowing tops to hide a growing bump. Tops that are loose, ruffled, or flouncy can flatter your figure and disguise your growing belly. Try a flowy tunic or a blouse with ruching along the sides. Tops or dresses with empire waists are also a good way to go, since they skim your figure without accentuating its curves. In cooler weather, big, slouchy sweaters are a comfy and fashionable way to conceal your baby bump.

Wear layers to disguise your changing shape. Layers can distract the eye from your midsection and add volume to your outfit without drawing attention to your belly. Try putting on a loose blazer or a drapey cardigan sweater over a blouse or tunic. If you feel brave enough to try layers with contrasting prints or patterns, this can also minimize the appearance of your belly. For example, you might wear a black-and-white polka dot blouse with a colorful floral blazer.

Balance your loose top with a fitted bottom. Wearing a slouchy top with baggy pants can give you a bulky appearance. Create a more slim and streamlined look and balance out your top half by wearing something more form-fitting on your legs. For example, you might try wearing a baggy tunic sweater with a pair of comfy leggings. In cooler weather, you could match a flowing blouse or shirt-dress with some tights or stretchy slim-fit jeans.

Draw attention from your belly with scarves and accessories. Choose a long, oversized scarf and drape it on so it hangs down in front of your torso. This can add the appearance of length and slimness to your figure. Scarves and other accessories, such as bold pieces of jewelry, can also draw the eye and take the viewer’s attention off your belly. Scarves in dark colors, like black or navy blue, create an extra slimming effect. Bright or colorful accessories are eye-catching and can create a new point of focus for your outfit. Try a brightly-colored scarf, a big pair of hoop earrings, or a sparkly necklace.

Wear printed fabrics to distract the eye. Prints are a great way to draw attention away from your changing shape. Have fun with colorful floral tops, or stick to more conservative spots, checks, or stripes if you prefer. While conventional wisdom has it that vertical stripes are more slimming, studies have shown that wearing horizontal stripes is actually better for minimizing the appearance of width. Horizontal stripes are very popular in maternity wear, however, so be careful not to clue people in with too many stripey outfits!