Australian woman, 20, gives birth just 17 hours after learning she was pregnant
When the 20-year-old Charlotte walked into the hospital with an unsettling stomach, the last thing she predicted was being pregnant and, what’s more, giving birth just 17 hours later. In a now-viral TikTok video shared under her handle @Charlotte-Maddison, the young woman explained what sounds like something straight out of a medical drama: She found out she was pregnant, and gave birth less than 18 hours later.
“I was probably freaking out a little bit, because I was like, ‘There’s no way that I’m pregnant,’” Charlotte explained in the video, as reported by the People. What she experienced is known as a cryptic pregnancy , sometimes called a stealth pregnancy . It’s a rare phenomenon, with only 1 in 2500 cases, where a woman is pregnant but doesn’t realize it, sometimes until labor begins.
Charlotte, who was on birth control and still getting her period regularly, explained that the signs were subtle. She explains that she gained a little weight, going up two jean sizes. But she chalked it up to being in a healthy relationship and stress.
It wasn’t until her GP ran a routine pregnancy test, while investigating potential food allergies. The test came back positive. Even then, her doctor assumed it was an early pregnancy. But an ultrasound told a very different story. Charlotte wasn’t just a few weeks along; she was 38 weeks and four days pregnant.
What is a Cryptic Pregnancy?
A cryptic pregnancy is exactly what it sounds like: pregnancy without the usual clues. Since there are no obvious bumps, no missed periods, and no morning sickness, the other glaring signs are easy to miss.
This type of pregnancy is more likely in certain groups. Women who are on birth control, have irregular cycles, are nearing menopause, recently gave birth, or have conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to miss the signs.
There are even more surprising reasons this happens:
Some women continue to bleed lightly throughout pregnancy. Implantation bleeding can be mistaken for a period, especially if someone already has a light flow.
Larger-bodied women may not notice changes in their abdomen.
Lack of symptoms is one of the major problems in this condition.
Pregnancy tests aren’t always reliable. Taken too early or incorrectly, they can miss a pregnancy altogether.
If the placenta is at the front, it can muffle fetal movement, making it harder to feel kicks.
Symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy
However, there are a few you can be on the lookout for, like sore or swollen breasts, light spotting, mild nausea or vomiting, fatigue or unusual sleep patterns, cramping or bloating, constipation, frequent urination, and sudden food aversions.
“I was probably freaking out a little bit, because I was like, ‘There’s no way that I’m pregnant,’” Charlotte explained in the video, as reported by the People. What she experienced is known as a cryptic pregnancy , sometimes called a stealth pregnancy . It’s a rare phenomenon, with only 1 in 2500 cases, where a woman is pregnant but doesn’t realize it, sometimes until labor begins.
Charlotte, who was on birth control and still getting her period regularly, explained that the signs were subtle. She explains that she gained a little weight, going up two jean sizes. But she chalked it up to being in a healthy relationship and stress.
It wasn’t until her GP ran a routine pregnancy test, while investigating potential food allergies. The test came back positive. Even then, her doctor assumed it was an early pregnancy. But an ultrasound told a very different story. Charlotte wasn’t just a few weeks along; she was 38 weeks and four days pregnant.
What is a Cryptic Pregnancy?
A cryptic pregnancy is exactly what it sounds like: pregnancy without the usual clues. Since there are no obvious bumps, no missed periods, and no morning sickness, the other glaring signs are easy to miss.
This type of pregnancy is more likely in certain groups. Women who are on birth control, have irregular cycles, are nearing menopause, recently gave birth, or have conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to miss the signs.
There are even more surprising reasons this happens:
Some women continue to bleed lightly throughout pregnancy. Implantation bleeding can be mistaken for a period, especially if someone already has a light flow.
Larger-bodied women may not notice changes in their abdomen.
Lack of symptoms is one of the major problems in this condition.
Pregnancy tests aren’t always reliable. Taken too early or incorrectly, they can miss a pregnancy altogether.
If the placenta is at the front, it can muffle fetal movement, making it harder to feel kicks.
Symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy
However, there are a few you can be on the lookout for, like sore or swollen breasts, light spotting, mild nausea or vomiting, fatigue or unusual sleep patterns, cramping or bloating, constipation, frequent urination, and sudden food aversions.
Next Story