7 surprising reasons “I didn’t know I was pregnant!” is totally real
We've all seen the headlines: A woman walks into a hospital, unaware that she’s pregnant—until she’s in labor! Sounds wild, right? But this makes the news not infrequently and, yes, we’ve all seen the reality shows.
Believe it or not, it’s more common than you’d think. Ask any OB, and they’ve probably had a patient with a similar story. In fact, I’ve seen it happen multiple times…
So how does this happen? Here are 7 reasons why someone might not know they’re expecting:
1. They knew…but kept it secret.
Some folks are fully aware of their pregnancy but choose to hide it—often out of fear. Maybe they’re worried about a partner’s reaction, or they're young and afraid of getting in trouble. These people sometimes arrive at the hospital in active labor and only then share what’s been going on or disclose it to one or two close supporters who keep it hush hush. It’s obviously not ideal.
2. They’re in denial.
This can happen when some has a psychiatric disorder or is part of a high-risk group like teenagers or survivors of abuse where them not acknowledging the pregnancy is a protective defensive mechanism. They genuinely believe they’re not pregnant. As you can imagine, they often need extra support and mental health care after delivery.
3. Weight can hide it.
Women who are heavier may not notice the typical weight gain of pregnancy. And if their baby is less active or their placenta is positioned in a way that blocks movement, it’s possible to miss the usual pregnancy signs entirely.
4. Irregular periods or still having “periods.”
Some women have irregular cycles and don’t think twice when their period is a no-show. Others experience spotting or bleeding during pregnancy, which they mistake for a regular period. It’s not till labor kicks in that they realize, “Holy crap, I’ve been pregnant this whole time!!”
5. Pregnancy symptoms can seem like something else.
Fatigue? Could be stress or depression. Weight gain? Maybe from indulging in some extra snacks. Some folks might chalk up their pregnancy symptoms to more everyday causes ‘till the very end.
6. She thought she couldn’t get pregnant.
Some women are told they’re unable to conceive, but medical communication isn’t always perfect AND this isn’t always the case. Even women with tubal ligations or whose partners have had vasectomies can end up pregnant, since no birth control other than abstinence is 100% foolproof (though please don’t freak out – that is not common!).
7. A negative pregnancy test gave the wrong answer.
Pregnancy tests are generally reliable, but not perfect. Testing too early is one of the main reasons for a false negative, but other issues can sometimes cause a test to miss a pregnancy too.
At the end of the day, whether the pregnancy was a complete surprise or just a late realization, the goal is to help these folks through delivery and support them in the best way we can – free of judgement or mocking.
Have you experienced this or known someone who has??
Until next time,
Dr. Jen