Cryptic Pregnancy: Woman Discovers She’s 17 Hours From Labor
The story of a woman in her twenties who gave birth just 17 hours after finding out she was pregnant has recently emerged, highlighting the phenomenon known as a "cryptic pregnancy."
In June, news outlets reported the unbelievable experience of a woman who delivered a healthy baby boy less than a day after receiving a positive pregnancy test.
The woman had experienced some weight gain and an increase in clothing size over the preceding months, but attributed it to stress. In a social media post, she explained, "Even though my stomach was getting bigger, I just thought I was gaining weight. I’d been in a happy relationship for two and a half years, so I just put it down to ‘relationship weight,’ and I was stressed at the time, so I thought that was the reason."
On June 6th, she visited a doctor to be tested for gluten sensitivity. The doctor surprisingly suggested a pregnancy test. Minutes later, she received confirmation that she was pregnant. Initially, the doctor reassured her it was likely very early stages and scheduled a follow-up appointment.
However, her partner’s family arranged for an immediate ultrasound at a hospital. There, she received the shocking news that she was 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant. Doctors discovered a lack of amniotic fluid around the baby and determined that labor needed to be induced.
The prospect of giving birth that evening felt surreal and overwhelming. "I was in shock," she said. "I was on my knees throwing up, thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’"
Her water broke soon after, and after two hours of labor, she delivered a healthy baby boy in just seven minutes. It was only 17 hours after she learned she was pregnant. "I was still in shock," she added. "I couldn’t even realize what was happening."
She and her son are now doing well, and she is adjusting to parenthood despite the unexpected circumstances. "Everything happened so fast, but I’m now grateful for my life with my son," she stated.
Cryptic Pregnancy: Not Knowing Until Right Before Delivery
Experts explain that in cases like hers, a placenta located on the anterior wall of the uterus can make it difficult to feel fetal movements, making it harder to recognize the pregnancy.
Her medical records indicated a "cryptic pregnancy." This generally refers to pregnancies not recognized by the individual or healthcare professionals until after 20 weeks of gestation, occurring in approximately 1 in 500 pregnancies. A subset of these are "fully cryptic pregnancies," where the individual remains unaware until labor begins.
Missed Periods, Minimal Weight Gain: Why Pregnancy Can Go Unnoticed
Several factors can contribute to concealed pregnancies:
- Irregular periods or mistaking implantation bleeding for menstruation.
- An anterior placenta, reducing the sensation of fetal movement.
- Delayed recognition of bodily changes due to abdominal obesity.
- Psychological factors such as denial or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These types of pregnancies can increase risks for both mother and child due to the lack of early prenatal care. This can include inadequate prenatal health management, difficulty in early detection of fetal abnormalities, undiagnosed pregnancy-related conditions, and insufficient preparation for childbirth, potentially leading to emergency situations.
Some women may unknowingly continue harmful habits like taking medication, drinking alcohol, or smoking, negatively impacting the baby’s health. Postpartum, they may also experience psychological shock, depression, and denial.
Experts advise that even women using contraception or experiencing regular menstruation should seek medical confirmation if they observe persistent bodily changes.
